Educational Policy Impact (Edexcel A-Level Sociology): Revision Notes

Educational Policy

Educational policy and raising standards in schools

Privatisation in Education

Privatisation in education involves making the system more efficient by introducing business-like processes. Ofsted, an external inspectorate, assesses school performance but may cause schools to prioritise compliance over student needs.

Privatisation of Education

This refers to involving private businesses in school operations, such as catering and finance, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Conservative Policies 1979-1997

Key changes included the Education Reform Act 1988, introducing Ofsted and the national curriculum to standardise education. National testing (SATs) was also implemented but has faced criticism for not accurately measuring student progress.

New Labour 1997-2010

Policies aimed at reducing class sizes, improving school facilities, and providing additional funding for deprived areas were introduced but later abandoned by the Conservative government due to high costs.

Coalition Government 2010-2015

Michael Gove's reforms included the Pupil Premium for disadvantaged students, the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) to broaden the curriculum and more rigorous examination structures. These aimed to raise standards but faced criticism for narrowing the curriculum.

Conservative Government 2015-Present

Policies include Independent Schools Sponsored Academies, expanding grammar schools, and reforming Ofsted to focus on curriculum quality. These aim to improve education standards but have been criticised for creating a two-tier system.

Conclusion

Conservative policies since 2015 aim to raise education standards by providing better opportunities and resources, though they face criticism for potentially limiting access for some students.