AQA A-Level Sociology Course - Functionalism and Other Perspectives on Education

Introduction

• First of five PowerPoint presentations for AQA A-level Sociology revision.
• Covers key perspectives on education: functionalism, Marxism, New Right, etc.

Functionalist Perspective

Key Functions of Education

• Durkheim: Education creates social solidarity and teaches necessary work skills.
• Parsons: Focuses on secondary socialization; introduces universalistic values.
• Davis and Moore: Role allocation based on meritocracy; critique by Marxists.

New Right Perspective

• Schools should operate like businesses and compete for consumers.
• Influenced UK Conservative government (1979-1997) with policies like league tables.

Marxist Perspective

Ideological State Apparatus

• Althusser: Education perpetuates class inequalities through capitalist ideology.
• Bowles and Gintis: Correspondence principle between school and workplace.

Evaluation Points

• Meritocracy is questioned with the existence of private schools.

Roles and Processes in School

Language Codes

• Bernstein: Restricted code in working class vs. elaborated code in middle class.

Pupil Subcultures

• Lacey: Streaming leads to formation of anti-school subcultures.
• Willis: Working-class boys form subcultures focusing on gaining respect.
• Fuller: High-ability black girls formed an anti-school subculture but succeeded.

Labeling Theory

• Teacher labeling leads to self-fulfilling prophecies affecting student identity.

Class and External/Internal Factors

Cultural and Material Deprivation

• Parental education and subculture influence educational achievement.
• Poor housing and health affect students' ability to study.

Bourdieu's Capital Theory

• Economic, social, and cultural capital influence educational outcomes.

Gender and Education

Internal/External Factors Affecting Gender Achievement

• Equal opportunities policies, GCSE coursework, and teacher attention patterns.
• Feminist campaigning, family changes, and employment patterns influence girls.
• Crisis of masculinity, feminization of education, and lack of male role models affect boys.

Subject Choice and Gender Roles

• Gendered subject choices in arts and sciences; vocational training disparities.

Ethnicity and Education

Internal Factors

• Archer: Pupil identities based on ethnicity; ideal, pathologized, and demonized identities.
• Institutional racism and ethnocentric curriculum affect ethnic minority students.

External Factors

• Language barriers and family structures affect educational outcomes.

Equality Policies and Educational Reforms

Historical Policies

• 1944 Education Act: Tripartite system; grammar, secondary modern, and technical schools.
• 1988 Education Reform Act: National curriculum, league tables, and Ofsted introduction.

Marketization

• Independence, competition, and choice introduced by various governments.

Private Education and Social Inequality

• Private education perpetuates class divide; debates over educational quality and opportunities.

Conclusion

• Open for corrections or additional detail through comments.
• Future videos to cover remaining topics.