Q7 education cultural capital essay plan

1. Does the British Education System play a
part in reproducing class difference?
Critically discuss with reference to the
concept of ‘Cultural Capital’
By Hebe Thorne
Key People:
Weber
Marx
Bourdieu
To use in argument:
Reay
Bennett
Collins

2. Argument:
• The existing education system not only compounds traditional class
divides but enhances them as well; (Increasing social mobility isn’t
enough to break this)
• Intro: Defined class and cultural capital, then linked these
definitions in with theories of class. Pulled out significance of
Bourdieu’s “institutionalised state” within cultural capital as this
placed emphasis on educational qualifications.
• Conc: Reinforced argument, idea that all components of ‘cultural
capital’ are linked and impact one another. ‘The better schools
attract more of the middle class meaning the middle class get a
better education. The whole process is cyclical’

3. • Parental Involvement
– Tend to get more involved with schooling when of a higher class (Reay
study) More help tends to mean they are likely to go further with their
education
– Wealthier parents can afford more resources e.g. Tutors
• Variety of schools
– SELECTIVE SCHOOLS: Private primary schools tend to have more extensive
tutoring for entrance esxams OR middle class parents can afford to pay for
private tutoring =unfair advantage. Therefore more higher class children
at selective school
– More wealthy can afford to move into catchment of better schools. Also,
better schools tend to be in the more wealthy areas.
– The worst schools tend to be in the poorer areas, and are less stimulating.
Therefore working class clever students may not feel motivated. (e.g. feel
out of place in Gifted and Talented Schemes-Reay)
– Oxbridge
• Meritocracy of Britain
– Idea that you get to higher places due to ability, but tend to have better
educational qualifications from ‘better schools’-these as mentioned tend
to be elite and require ££
– Idea of inequality within parliament
LINK