This episode explores how globalisation and digital technology are fundamentally reshaping the landscape of education, particularly in the context of AQA A Level Sociology. It examines how the increasing interconnectedness of societies impacts educational policies through international comparisons and the rise of global educational corporations. Simultaneously, the text discusses the transformative role of digital tools and platforms, from enhancing access to information to altering teaching methodologies. Crucially, the discussion highlights both the opportunities these trends present for learning and the significant challenges they pose, especially concerning the perpetuation or reduction of educational inequalities, such as the persistent digital divide. Finally, the text analyses these impacts through various sociological perspectives, including Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, the New Right, and Postmodernism, offering a comprehensive overview for evaluating their influence on educational systems.

This episode examines marketisation and privatisation within the education system, key concepts in AQA A-Level Sociology. It defines marketisation as the application of market principles like competition and consumer choice to state education, driven by New Right ideologies and implemented through policies such as league tables and formula funding. The source then explores the impacts of these policies, highlighting both the New Right view of increased standards and critical perspectives from sociologists like Stephen Ball, who argue they exacerbate inequality through practices such as 'cream-skimming' and 'educational triage'. Furthermore, the text defines privatisation as the transfer of educational assets and services from state control to private companies, discussing its various forms and criticisms related to profit motives and accountability. Finally, it considers the influence of globalisation on these trends and analyses different sociological perspectives on the effects of marketisation and privatisation, particularly their disproportionate benefits for the middle class.

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of UK educational policy and its impact on social inequality since 1944, particularly focusing on social class, gender, and ethnicity. It explains key historical periods, including the Tripartite System, the Comprehensive System, and the era of Marketisation following the 1988 Education Reform Act. The text also analyses policies introduced by New Labour and subsequent Coalition/Conservative governments, assessing their aims and actual effects on reducing or reproducing existing inequalities. Finally, it addresses policies specifically designed to reduce achievement gaps, discusses the privatisation and globalisation of education, and provides a framework for analysing how policies have predominantly reproduced social class inequality.

This episode explores differential educational achievement within the UK education system, specifically examining the varied outcomes among different social classes, genders, and ethnic groups. It meticulously analyses external factors originating from home and background, such as material deprivation, cultural deprivation, and cultural capital, alongside internal factors within schools, including labelling, setting and streaming, and pupil subcultures. The source details how these complex interplays of social, economic, and institutional elements contribute to the reproduction of educational inequalities, offering a comprehensive sociological perspective on barriers and facilitators to success for diverse student populations.

This episode offers a comprehensive exploration of relationships and processes within schools as a key area within the sociology of education. It examines how teacher-pupil interactions, particularly through labelling theory and the self-fulfilling prophecy, profoundly influence student outcomes. The text also discusses the formation of pupil identities and subcultures, such as pro- and anti-school groups, highlighting their impact on academic success and the reproduction of social inequalities. Furthermore, it analyses the role of the curriculum, including its formal, hidden, and ethnocentric aspects, alongside the broader school organisation and ethos, in shaping educational experiences. Ultimately, the source provides a framework for evaluating the interplay between these internal school dynamics and wider external factors on student achievement.

This episode explores sociological perspectives on the role and functions of education, primarily for the AQA A Level Sociology syllabus. It systematically outlines four major viewpoints: Functionalism, which sees education as crucial for social order and stability; Marxism, which posits education reproduces class inequality; Feminism, arguing education perpetuates gender disparities; and the New Right, which critiques state education and advocates for marketisation. The document details key thinkers, concepts, strengths, and weaknesses for each perspective, concluding with guidance on structuring an essay to assess whether education's main role is to maintain social order.

This episode outlines key sociological perspectives on families and households, offering diverse frameworks for understanding their nature, role, and functions within society. It examines Functionalist views, which see the family as vital for social stability, performing essential functions like socialisation and reproduction. The text also explores Marxist interpretations, asserting that the family serves the interests of capitalism by perpetuating class structures and consumerism. Furthermore, it details Feminist analyses, highlighting how the family often maintains patriarchal power and oppresses women through various mechanisms. Finally, the text presents New Right perspectives, which advocate for the traditional nuclear family as fundamental to social order and express concerns about the impact of alternative family forms and welfare policies.

This episode explores contemporary sociological perspectives on families, moving beyond traditional structural views to examine how individual choices and global processes increasingly shape family forms and relationships. It highlights the Personal Life Perspective, which emphasises the subjective meanings individuals give to their relationships, extending the concept of 'family' beyond biological or marital ties to include chosen families and even pets. Additionally, the text discusses Postmodernism, arguing that there is no single 'normal' family type due to increased diversity and individual freedom to construct relationships, exemplified by Giddens' "pure relationships" and Beck's "negotiated family." Finally, it analyses the profound impact of globalisation on families through phenomena like migration, transnational families, global care chains, and the influence of economic and cultural shifts on family stability and structure worldwide.