← Sociology syllabus

EnglandSociology

Education

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Why do some groups of pupils achieve more than others?

The factors affecting educational achievement, including the effects of social class, gender and ethnicity, and the difference between material and cultural explanations.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology education topic, covering the factors affecting achievement by social class, gender and ethnicity, and the material and cultural explanations sociologists use.
10 min answer →

What does the education system do for society?

The functions of education, including socialisation, skills for work, role allocation and social control, drawing on Durkheim, Parsons and Davis and Moore.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology education topic, covering the functionalist account of the functions of education (socialisation, skills, role allocation and social control) using Durkheim, Parsons and Davis and Moore.
10 min answer →

What happens inside schools that affects how pupils do?

Processes within schools, including labelling, the self-fulfilling prophecy, setting and streaming, and pupil subcultures, drawing on interactionists such as Becker.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology education topic, covering the processes inside schools: labelling, the self-fulfilling prophecy, setting and streaming, and pupil subcultures, with the interactionist view.
10 min answer →

What do schools teach pupils beyond the formal lessons?

The hidden curriculum, the difference between the formal and hidden curriculum, and the Marxist view of Bowles and Gintis (the correspondence principle).
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology education topic, covering the hidden curriculum, how it differs from the formal curriculum, and the Marxist view of Bowles and Gintis and the correspondence principle.
9 min answer →

How do the different perspectives explain the role of education?

The functionalist, Marxist, feminist and interactionist perspectives on education, and how they evaluate whether education is fair and meritocratic.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology education topic, covering the functionalist, Marxist, feminist and interactionist perspectives on education and the debate over meritocracy.
10 min answer →