Topic 6 - Coalition government policies from 2010

From 2010, all schools encouraged to leave local authority control + become academies. Funding taken from local authority budgets + given directly to acadmies by central gov, academies given control over curriculum.

2012, over 1/2 all secondary schools academies. Some run by private ed business + funded directly by state. 

However, whereas Labour's original city academies targeted disadv'd schools + areas, Coalition gov, by allowing any school to become academy, removed focus on reducing inequality.

Although funded by state, free schools set up + run by parents, teachers, faith organisations or business rather than local authority. Supporters of free schools claim improve ed standards by taking control from state + giving to parents. Free schools - give parents + teachers opp to create new school if unhappy w/ state schools in area.

However, Allen (2010) argues research from Sweden where 20% schools free schools, shows only benefit children from highly-ed families. Other critics claim free schools socially divisive + they lower standards - Sweden's international ed ranking fallen since intro.

England, evidence shows free school take fewer disadvantaged pupils than nearby schools. Eg 2011 only 6.4% pupils at Bristol Free School eligible for free school meals, comapred w/ 22.5% pupils across city as whole (DoE 2012).

Ball (2011) - promoting acadmies + free schools -> increased fragmentation + increased centralisation of control over ed provision in England.
 - fragmentation - comp sys being replaced by patchwork of diverse provision, much of it involving private providers, -> greater inequality in opps.
 - centralisation of control - central gov alne has power to allow/require schools to become academies or allow free schools to be set up. Schools funded directly by central gov. Rapid growth reduced role of elected local authorities in ed.

Coalition-Lib-Dem coalition's marketisation policies also aimed at reducing inequality. Policies inc:
 - free school meals for all children in reception, year 1 + 2
 - Pupil Premium - money that schools receive for each pupil from disadv'd b/g

However, Ofsted (2012) found often Pupil Premium not spent on those who need it. Only 1 in 10 head teachers said had significantly changed how supported pupils from disadv'd b/gs.

As part of coalition gov's 'austerity' programme, spending on many areas of ed cut: school buildings cut by 60% etc, many Sure Start centres closed, Ed Maintenance Allowance (EMA_ abolished, uni tuition fees tripled to £9,000 a year.

Critics argue Sure Start + EMA reduced opps for w/c pupils. Increased uni fees may discourage from entering higher ed.