The Role of Education in Society

    OCR
    GCSE

    Candidates must analyse the role of education within the social structure of contemporary UK society. This study area necessitates a critical evaluation of sociological perspectives—specifically Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, and the New Right—regarding the functions of education (socialisation, skills provision, role allocation). Furthermore, candidates must assess the impact of educational policies from the 1944 Butler Act to recent marketisation reforms on differential achievement by social class, gender, and ethnicity. Mastery requires linking internal school processes (labelling, subcultures) with external factors (material/cultural deprivation) to explain patterns of attainment.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit explicit integration of key concepts such as 'universalistic standards', 'hidden curriculum', and 'cultural capital' rather than descriptive language.
    • Award marks for accurate citation of key studies (e.g., Durkheim, Parsons, Bowles and Gintis) to support theoretical claims.
    • Responses must distinguish between the 'formal curriculum' and the 'hidden curriculum' when analyzing socialization processes.
    • High-level responses must evaluate the claim in the question, offering a counter-perspective (e.g., criticizing Functionalism using Marxist evidence).

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit explicit integration of key concepts such as 'universalistic standards', 'hidden curriculum', and 'cultural capital' rather than descriptive language.
    • Award marks for accurate citation of key studies (e.g., Durkheim, Parsons, Bowles and Gintis) to support theoretical claims.
    • Responses must distinguish between the 'formal curriculum' and the 'hidden curriculum' when analyzing socialization processes.
    • High-level responses must evaluate the claim in the question, offering a counter-perspective (e.g., criticizing Functionalism using Marxist evidence).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In 12-mark questions, ensure the conclusion explicitly addresses 'how far' the statement is true, rather than just summarizing.
    • 💡Use the 'PEEL' structure (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) to ensure AO2 application marks are secured.
    • 💡When using source material, explicitly quote data or trends to support a sociological argument; do not just describe the table/graph.
    • 💡Allocate approximately 1 minute per mark; do not over-write on the lower tariff (1-4 mark) questions at the expense of the 12-marker.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing the 'correspondence principle' (Marxism) with 'role allocation' (Functionalism).
    • Relying on personal anecdotal evidence or 'common sense' rather than sociological studies and theory.
    • Failing to reach a substantiated judgement in 'Discuss how far' questions, often listing points without weighing their significance.

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss how far
    Evaluate
    Compare

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