The British education system is decentralized and oriented towards perpetuating the existing social order. Children from wealthy families typically attend private "public schools" while others go to state schools until age 16. The most prestigious universities are Oxford and Cambridge, which have historically educated many of Britain's elite and influential figures. However, the education system also promotes social inequality by concentrating privileged populations in selective schools and reinforcing class divisions through factors like accents. Rising tuition fees also threaten diversity and social mobility in higher education.
2. So British!
“Public Schools” in GB are not public but
privately owned and run
Children of the upper class are educated in
Public Schools
Most schools in England require children to
wear a school
uniform.
3. Why uniforms?
A sense of pride and discipline
Creates identity for a school
Everyone is equal.
No expensive clothes for children
Stop worrying about what to wear each day
4. Purpose of Education
Teach basics – reading, writing, math
Socialize: children taught rules and values
needed to become good citizens
State heavily involved –when, where, how and
what children taught
5. Controversial questions in
education
• What sort of English should students learn?
• Should students be forced to speak in a standardized
way rather than regional accents
Other controversial questions:
Educational policy can determine if class inequality can
be erased or continued
Continued debate over how “EQUAL” educational
opportunity should be
Opportunities very different between classes
6. Primary Schools
Education compulsory between 5 and 16
before the age of 3, few child minding
facilities
Often mothers sacrifice their career
Wealthier families pay nannies
From the outset children do not enjoy equal
chances
7. Secondary Schools
Independent Schools
Wealthier parents send their children to fee-
paying independent schools, where children
are put on the road to wealth, success &
influence.
Grammar schools: 7 Boarding ( like Eton,
Harrow, Rugby, Winchester,…) + 2 day
schools
A significant number of influential people in the
UK went to this type of grammar school.
8. Famous Etonians
•Out of 53 Prime Ministers 19
went to Eton
•Only 10 had « normal »
secondary education
9. Secondary Schools
State Schools
Brightest students get a grant to go to
Grammar Schools.
Others go to Comprehensive Schools until 16
Schools ran by Local Education Authorities
There are 152 LEA in England
Since the 1988 Education Act, schools can opt
out and thus become autonomous in budget.
10. LEA Responsibilities
distribution and monitoring of funding
Admission and allocation of places at each
school
direct employers of all staff
educational achievement of children
attendance and advisory rights in employment
of teachers
owners of school land and premises in
community schools
11. Problems with the system
Schools opting out can resort to whatever
measure to decrease costs (Lowering
maintenance costs, larger classes, underpaid and
overworked teachers…)
Inner city schools: concentration of the least
privileged population -> 40% of pupils hardly
speak English -> greater risk of failure -> more
dropouts.
National Curriculum, but ystem promotes
regional differences and disparities, (regional
accents)
12. Higher Education
As with secondary education, most
universities in the UK are dominated by top
universities: Oxford and Cambridge.
Role of Oxbridge in perpetuating the
Establishment
The most influential people in the UK tend to
graduate from these universities.
Their history and reputation tends to attract
the smartest scholars
18. University
Prestige of Humanities: Studying “useless”
subjects is a sign of class
The system can contribute to enhance social
differences.
With public schools, Oxford and Cambridge
are the places where many of the decision
makers are produced
19. University
Funding
Education is funded by government grants.
Pupils apply directly to university or college
When accepted, they apply for a maintenance
grant
Maintenance grants cover living expenses and
their tuition fees.
21. Tuition fees
Consecutive reforms to rise tuition fees
1996: 1,000 £
2015:9,000£
Rising student debt
Threat to diversity
Protests in London
Nov. 5, 2015
22. Education and Social Classes
Education system in Britain decentralized
It is oriented towards the perpetuation of the
existing social order
Prevents the disappearance of the most useful
means of social discrimination:
The accent.
23. Social Mobility and education
Margaret Thatcher.
Discovered Power at Oxford,
but once Prime Minister, forced universities to
turn towards private funding
As Education Minister, known as the milk
snatcher
As Prime Minister, took elocution lessons so
that her accent would not betray her humble
origins.
24. …
Learning is not a right or a duty but a privilege
that has to be bought with hard cash, because
learning can mean power
The state will do the minimum to provide
education for those who cannot afford to pay
for it.
No matter how high one rises in society thanks
to education, one will never leave behind
one’s class.