Percentage Questions 1 23

This is the second question in Section B of Study Theme 1: Comparative Politics and Research Methods. It will be numbered 6. No particular question is likely to come up.

You will be given a piece of prose or data in the form of a diagram or table.

how it could be improved upon. You must critically evaluate the research chosen You must decide why that particular form of research was chosen: why that particular form of research was chosen whether or not the research could be criticised as flawed how valid or appropriate it is

This information is taken from an election leaflet issued by the Labour Party for the Westminster Parliamentary Election

Critically appraise the information given. Look for examples of exaggeration, bias, inaccuracies, selective reporting.

For what purpose might Labour use this information? Support manifesto commitment to increase staffing levels in schools. Increase public confidence in their policy on education. Attract media and electorate attention to success of policies. Propaganda snapshot – vote catching. Counter allegations from opposition parties that they are failing to reach targets.

2. The local MP has put this information into his election leaflet. This implies 100 more teachers in his constituency. Why might this be viewed as misleading? No indication of the size of his/her constituency. Therefore the impact of the increase in the number of teachers is difficult to evaluate. Densely populated urban constituencies have far more schools than rural constituencies.

2. The local MP has put this information into his election leaflet. This implies 100 more teachers in his constituency. Why might this be viewed as misleading? 100 more teachers in a small, rural constituency would have more impact on improving the quality of the learning experience in schools than in a large, urban constituency. Have to consider the relative proportion of local authority schools and private ones in the area. Counter argument– represents a 10% increase; could be substantial.

For: Evidence of success of his/her partys policies on education and so a valid/powerful way of promoting New Labour as an effective government. Against: May be invalid in the Scottish context. Staffing levels in Scottish schools may not have increased at all or by that amount. This may not reflect a failure to deliver New Labours manifesto promise but may be expedient in terms of falling rolls in some Scottish schools. 3. Education is a power devolved to the Scottish Parliament. What are the arguments for and against a Westminster Scottish MP using this information in his election literature?

Against: Issued by Westminster and so will be perceived as applying more to England and Wales. Education is a devolved power to the Scottish Parliament so is largely irrelevant. 3. Education is a power devolved to the Scottish Parliament. What are the arguments for and against a Westminster Scottish MP using this information in his election literature?

4. Note that the article does not say 100 extra teachers over and above the existing number. What reasons could there be for the increase in teacher numbers? A high level of retirements amongst teachers. Redevelopment of inner city area/new housing development would result in an increase in school rolls which would necessitate employing more teachers.

Data does not specify whether teachers are full time or part time and into which areas of education they have been put, for example, a special needs school has a lower pupil-teacher ratio. May be specialist teachers – they tend to be peripatetic. 4. Note that the article does not say 100 extra teachers over and above the existing number. What reasons could there be for the increase in teacher numbers?

1997 – year New Labour came to power and replaced long standing Conservative Government. Possibly to suggest that Conservative Party were not prepared to fund this extra support for teachers; that Conservative Government not committed to improving education in schools. Reinforce fact that New Labour has met a manifesto commitment to relieve pressure on teachers by employing classroom assistants. Vote catching technique – spin doctoring. 5. Why does the leaflet show a value of none for 1997 for classroom assistants?

6. What other information would be necessary to evaluate the success of this local authority with the number of classroom assistant it employs? How its performance compares with other constituencies especially those run by Conservative or Liberal Democrat councils who control local authority spending on education. How many schools have classroom assistants; how many are full time/part time; what their duties are; ratio of classroom assistants to departments/classes; size of classes; school rolls etc.

Retention rate - how many of the classroom assistants recruited actually stay in employment – level of turnover. This will depend on their pay and conditions. Experience and competence of classroom assistants – how effective they are in reducing teacher workload? 6. What other information would be necessary to evaluate the success of this local authority with the number of classroom assistant it employs?