Sociology Revision Notes
Education
The structure of Education 1944-1988
- The Tripartite system- 1944, 11+ test= Grammar, secondary modern, technical
modern
- Comprehensive system- 1965, 11+ not compulsory, comprehensive schools,
streaming
Education Reform Act 1988
- Marketisation
- Thatcher Conservative government
- Legitimises and reproduces inequality through Exam league tables and funding
- Parentocracy (David 1993)
- Myth of Parentocracy (Ball)
- Inequality legitimised through: exam league tables + funding allocation
Education 1997- now
- Labour (Tony Blair) = tuition fees, aimed to reduce inequalities
- Conservative (David Cameron) = performance related pay, Head teacher control of
budget
- Labour (Jeremy Corbyn) = schools shouldn’t be like businesses, Marxists agree
- Conservative (Theresa May) = no extra funding for schools
Privatisation of Education
- Globalisation + Privatisation
Durkheim: role of education (functionalism)
- Organic Analogy
- Creates social solidarity= transmits norms, beliefs and values, co-operation outside
of social circle, respect hierarchy and rules.
- Teaching Specialist skills’ teaches individuals specialist knowledge needed for them
to play their part in society e.g. teamwork, respect for authority, team work, time
Parsons: role of education (functionalism)
- Meritocracy (e.g. exams, achievement coins)
- Ascribed vs achieved
- Link to Davis and Moore
Davis and Moore: role of education (functionalism)
- Role allocation e.g. GCSE results filter individuals
- ‘Sifts and Sorts’ according to ability
- Inequality is important
- Link to Parsons
Education
The structure of Education 1944-1988
- The Tripartite system- 1944, 11+ test= Grammar, secondary modern, technical
modern
- Comprehensive system- 1965, 11+ not compulsory, comprehensive schools,
streaming
Education Reform Act 1988
- Marketisation
- Thatcher Conservative government
- Legitimises and reproduces inequality through Exam league tables and funding
- Parentocracy (David 1993)
- Myth of Parentocracy (Ball)
- Inequality legitimised through: exam league tables + funding allocation
Education 1997- now
- Labour (Tony Blair) = tuition fees, aimed to reduce inequalities
- Conservative (David Cameron) = performance related pay, Head teacher control of
budget
- Labour (Jeremy Corbyn) = schools shouldn’t be like businesses, Marxists agree
- Conservative (Theresa May) = no extra funding for schools
Privatisation of Education
- Globalisation + Privatisation
Durkheim: role of education (functionalism)
- Organic Analogy
- Creates social solidarity= transmits norms, beliefs and values, co-operation outside
of social circle, respect hierarchy and rules.
- Teaching Specialist skills’ teaches individuals specialist knowledge needed for them
to play their part in society e.g. teamwork, respect for authority, team work, time
Parsons: role of education (functionalism)
- Meritocracy (e.g. exams, achievement coins)
- Ascribed vs achieved
- Link to Davis and Moore
Davis and Moore: role of education (functionalism)
- Role allocation e.g. GCSE results filter individuals
- ‘Sifts and Sorts’ according to ability
- Inequality is important
- Link to Parsons
