Introductory Task

1
Introductory Task

• You are the survivors of a terrible world wide
  disaster. There are several hundred people.
• You need to pass on your knowledge to the next
  generation and to each other so they can rebuild
  the world.
• You have a completely free rein to design an
  effective education system for the survivors.
• What would your system be like?
• (in pairs, 10 minutes)

2
How is the education system of Great Britain
organised?

• Understanding how British society plans and
  organises the education of young people.

3
Sociological Targets

• You will understand that the education system is
  an important institution in our society.
• You will recognise that there are a number of
  forces that affect the shape that the education
  system takes in a society political,
  ideological, economic and traditional.
• You will understand the form of the UK education
  system and recognise some of the factors that
  have shaped it.

4
Personal targets

• To undertake personal research into the education
  system.
• To work with others in the class on discussion
  points during the lesson
• To meet assessment deadlines

5
Websites to support your learning

• www.dfes.gov.uk/
• This is the website of the Department for
  Education and Skills. Lots of official data and
  government information is available, as well as
  policy documents and links to other official
  sties
• news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education 
• This is the BBC site and is of course, excellent
  for current stories and background information.
• http//www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/
• Education-line is an academic site with research
  papers and links.
• www.tes.co.uk
• This is the teaching newspaper. You can see in
  the LRC, but the site is useful because there are
  discussion forums and news articles about
  education in Britain. See what teachers say to
  each when pupils are not about! 
• www.atss.org.uk
• Use any of the sites recommended by the
  Association for the Teaching of Social Sciences.
  They really are all very good.

6
The history of education

• The education system set up in 1945 consisted of
  three different types of schooling grammar
  schools, secondary moderns and technical schools.
• Although it was intended to be equal for all, it
  favoured middle class children.
• It was popular with many parents.
• In parts of Britain, it was changed to
  comprehensive schools in the 1970s.

7
Grammar Schools

• Children all sat an examination known as the 11
  and they were allocated a school based on how
  they had achieved in that examination. Those seen
  as more academic attended Grammar Schools which
  taught a very academic curriculum and those seen
  as less able went to Secondary Modern Schools
  which taught practical subjects such as metal
  work and carpentry for boys and needlework and
  cookery for girls. Only children who attended
  Grammar Schools could sit exams or go to college.

8
Thinking exercise

• What arguments are there in favour of grammar
  schools and education based on selection by
  ability?
• What arguments are there against grammar schools
  and education based on selection by ability?
• (in pairs, 4 minutes)

9
Comprehensive Schools

• In 1965, a weak and unpopular Labour government
  sent out a circular to all Education Authorities
  known as 10/65. This told local education
  authorities, which were run by local councils
  that they should prepare for comprehensive
  schools. These would be single schools taking
  children of all abilities regardless of their
  success. In some areas, local education
  authorities changed to this new system of
  educating all children with some speed. In
  others, local education authorities failed to
  submit workable plans, and in these areas, there
  are still grammar schools.

10
Fit the term to the meaning

• Every person has the same chance or opportunity.
• Schools that teach traditional academic subjects.
• Schools intended to teach children of all
  abilities.
• An instruction telling education authorities to
  go comprehensive

Equality
Comprehensive schools
Circular 10/65
Grammar Schools
11
Fit the term to the meaning

• Every person has the same chance or opportunity.
• Schools that teach traditional academic subjects.
• Schools intended to teach children of all
  abilities.
• An instruction telling education authorities to
  go comprehensive

Equality
Grammar Schools
Comprehensive schools
Circular 10/65
12
Who are these two people? Why are they
significant in the history of the British
education system?
Margaret Thatcher Conservative Prime
Minister From 1979
Tony Blair New Labour Prime Minister From 1997
13
What happened in 1979?

• 1979 was a turning point in British society
  because a very ideological Conservative
  government, led by Margaret Thatcher took power.
  This government is identified with a set of
  beliefs known as New Right. The New Right
  believes that no rules are needed for society
  because economic factors (market forces) can be
  relied upon.
• This impacted on schools, because the New Right
  believed that they could only improve if they
  were encouraged to be competitive with each other
  for students. One of the ways that they did this
  was by ensuring that local authorities schools
  were given more control over their own money and
  also that they were funded by the number of
  pupils that they taught.

14
Thinking exercise

• What are the features of New Right thinking about
  human behaviour?
• Should schools compete for the best students?
• (in pairs, 4 minutes)

15
Summary of key points

• The Labour party introduced Comprehensive Schools
  to encourage equality for all children.
• Conservative governments objected to
  comprehensive schools.
• Conservative governments believed in market
  forces and competition between schools.
• They have encouraged a variety of different
  schools to develop.
• The Labour Party under Tony Blair and more recent
  education ministers has continued with this
  policy.

16
Individual Research

• Find out about one or more recent debates or
  stories that have been in the news and which
  focus on education. Summarise the key points
• Use this website for a start http//news.bbc.co.uk
  /1/hi/education/7791461.stm
• What are your views on this debate/story?
• (Approx 300 words suitable to be shared with
  class)