1. Is contempory Britain meritocratic?

2. As we know, functionalists believe that the education system is based on meritocracy
Educational achievements and qualifications should depend on ability, skills, and hard work
Factors such as social class, ethnicity, gender or disability should not be an obstacle

3. Is this true of our education system?
Marxists believe that the ruling classes use education as an ideological state apparatus

4. Natural Intelligence (IQ) & Meritocracy
Some argue that some people are simply born more intelligent.
In order to measure intelligence, scientists have defined it as ‘Intelligence Quotient’ or IQ
Sociologists have been critical of the notion of innate intelligence due to bias

5. Meritocracy?
Evidence from IQ tests still create patterns along social class lines, if intelligence was purely biological, the pattern would be more random
Cultural factors in development and in educational achievement are both underestimated

6. Think of 3 problems with IQ tests1 2 3

7. Think of three ways that environment influence intellect1 2 3

8. Other issues on innate intelligence
Is intelligence fixed?
Does a high IQ lead to educational success?

9. Social class and differences in educational achievement
Social class is a key factor in influencing whether a child does well at school
Generally, the higher the social class of the parents, the more successful
The gap begins in primary school and gets bigger as students progress through

10. What factors may influence this?
Think of as many factors as you can
For example: A lack of money for equipment or a use of restricted code of language

11. There are lots of reasons:
Material explanations
Cultural explanations
Factors inside the school

12. This suggests that education is not meritocratic
Research carried out by Douglas in investigated Material explanations for a lack of equality in achievement

13. Action on a lack of equality
Pick one of the reasons that we have mentioned
Look at the statistics from the league tables, imagine that the statistics come from the schools in your area

14. You should include the following:
Write a letter to David Cameron complaining about your education, or your sibling or friend
You should include the following:
The school you are complaining about
A percentage comparison between the schools achievement
Three possible reasons why social class may have had an effect on your/your sibling/your friend’s achievements
Some evidence from the research found in The home and the School, Douglas (1964)
End your letter with two suggestions of how the Government could achieve a meritocratic education

15. Recap Answer the following questions
1. What did Marxists refer to education as
A Ideal
B Ideological State Apparatus
C Ruling class tools for wealth

16. 2 Intelligence has been defined in order to be measured as
A Intelligence Quota
B Intellect Quotient
C Intelligence Quotient

17. 4.Material explanations refers to
3 Spell…………….
4.Material explanations refers to
A Social and economic factors
B Labelling
C Values and lifestyles
5 Spell…………