Education Revision Notes IGCSE

IGCSE- Sociology Education

Secondary socialisation: Schools act as an agent of secondary socialisation not only through what is taught but also in the ways children learn.

Primary Schools:  emphasis on reading, writing and mathematics and an introduction to other subjects

Secondary schools:

• From the age of 11 to 16 (in most countries)

• Pupils study a wide variety of subjects, and test scores determined if one is ready to move to the next stage.

• Pupils can not leave to work until they have reached the school leaving age (the UK is 16)

Old System-

Tripartite System:Students sit the 11+ exam at the end of primary to decide which high school they will go too. There are three types...
1. Grammar:For those who passed the exam - considered intelligent
2. Technical: Those who didn't pass but showed strong abilities with technical work.
3. Secondary Modern:Anyone who didn't go to grammar or technical school get a basic education for less skilled jobs.
New System-

Comprehensive system-

• ALL CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CHANCE TO SUCCEED

1. Specialist Schools: secondary schools that specialise in one or more subjects, such as sports, music, math…

2. Academies: Allow business and other sponsors to start schools, usually to replace schools with very low GCSE results. Academies are not under the control of the local authority as they are funded directly by the government.

3. Free schools: The current government also allows parents, teacher charities and other groups to set up schools and be directly funded

For

• They give equal chance to everyone

• Strong community spirit (bring together all children)

• Children are no longer labeled as failure at the age of 11

• Fewer people leave without qualification

• Benefits working class pupils

Against

• Bring down standards brighter students have to go at the same speed as the rest

• In practice not diverse, in a working-class area all pupils would be working class

• Are large and impersonal, and may have discipline problems

• Some provide different education to different pupils

• Some comprehensive schools have not been able to take all the children in the area

CASE STUDY: Summerhill school

• School started by A.S. Neil

• He believed schools had failed to turn out people who were happy and free

• Each student and member staff had a vote in a school meeting

• Pupils attend the lessons they wanted to and study at the level they want

• It’s boarding from primary to secondary

State Schools: schools that are directly or indirectly run by the government.

• Faith School- Religious schools

Private Schools: a school that’s not run or controlled by the government. In the UK only about 7% of people go to private schools.

For

• Have a smaller class size, better facilities and resources

• Parents have to right to spend their money as they wish

• Someone who goes to a private school has a better chance at a better job than a child with the same score at a public school

• Private schools can give scholarships

Against

• Most parents can’t…