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Description
In this 50 minute colour programme, the central theme is inequality in education. The programme is divided into three main parts. The first examines the arguments that egalitarians make against pri...vate education - that it is socially divisive and that the basis of selection is privilege. These arguments are put to the teachers, pupils and parents of University College School, a private school in North West London, who respond by maintaining that the objectives, methods and values of the school are necessary in order to produce academic excellence. In the second part of the programme, we turn to the educationally needy. We examine one aspect of the work of Quintin Kynaston School, an inner London comprehensive. This is its attempt to discriminate positively in favour of children who are educationally backward and often socially underprivileged, by allocating additional resources to their needs. In particular, the programme examines the work of their remedial department. In the final part of the programme, the Headmasters of the two schools come together to discuss questions about the effect of private education on the state sector, academic standards and the role of education in changing patterns of inequality in society.
In this 50 minute colour programme, the central theme is inequality in education. The programme is divided into three main parts. The first examines the arguments that egalitarians make against pri...vate education - that it is socially divisive and that the basis of selection is privilege. These arguments are put to the teachers, pupils and parents of University College School, a private school in North West London, who respond by maintaining that the objectives, methods and values of the school are necessary in order to produce academic excellence. In the second part of the programme, we turn to the educationally needy. We examine one aspect of the work of Quintin Kynaston School, an inner London comprehensive. This is its attempt to discriminate positively in favour of children who are educationally backward and often socially underprivileged, by allocating additional resources to their needs. In particular, the programme examines the work of their remedial department. In the final part of the programme, the Headmasters of the two schools come together to discuss questions about the effect of private education on the state sector, academic standards and the role of education in changing patterns of inequality in society.
| Module code and title: | D302, Patterns of inequality |
|---|---|
| Item code: | D302; 07 |
| First transmission date: | 25-05-1976 |
| Published: | 1976 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:49:18 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Nigel Houghton |
| Contributors: | Steve Allott; Alan Barker; Andrew Blower; Geoffrey Carrick; Dominic Casserley; John Couper; Kathleen Ismael; Danny Janner; Peter Mitchell; Tony Roberts; John Shine; Kate Shipway; Patrick Spottiswoode; Peter Underwood; Mark Wale; Renata Wien |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Education; Inequality |
| Footage description: | The programme begins with an introduction to University College School. Mr Wale outlines why he sent his son there. Shots of an English class in session, discussing Chinese Communism. In the staffroom, members of staff stress the academic nature of UCS and the sort of careers they go on to. Barker, UCS's headmaster, describes why he feels independent schools should exist and why more people wish to use them. Wale explains his reasons for choosing UCS and how far such schools are socially divisive. A group of UCS 6th formers discuss whether they see themselves as forming an elite or contributing to social divisions. Barker concludes the section on UCS by stressing the value of independent schools. Quintin Kynaston School is looked at next, not as a comparison, but to see how they deal with acute educational needs. Mitchell, the headmaster, outlines the school's aims. Over stills of the school, Blowers explains its organisation, and he and Mitchell list some social difficulties the school faces. Ismael, a one-parent mother of six, with two boys at the school relates the story of her life, marriage, children and their education. Blowers and Mitchell describe the extra resource and provision that goes into remedial teaching. Shots of remedial reading and maths lessons at Kynaston. Wien explains what they are doing. Mitchell concludes this section by explaining what he feels comprehensive education is trying to do for society. In the studio Mitchell, Barker and Blowers discuss various aspects of the independent/comprehensive school dichotomy. They look at the question of the effects on each other, the different roles they play, standards, their influence on society and its inequalities etc. Finally Wale and Ismael explain what they would like their children to get from education. Credits. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72025 |
| Production number: | 00525_2282 |
| Videofinder number: | 188 |
| Available to public: | no |
