Introductory description

This module is about fairness and social justice in education. Fairness is a widely used word and a fashionable political slogan but what does it really mean to have a fair society or indeed a fair education system? For example, is it fair that children from poorer families tend to do less well in school academically? Is it fair that students now have to pay large sums of money to study at university? Or is it fair that if families have the money they are able to 'buy' a 'better' education for their child?

In this module we will look at the educational inequalities that may accompany individuals from birth, through school and beyond. We will examine initiatives such as Sure Start, the Academies and Free Schools programme, and current educational issues such as the expansion of higher education and the inclusion of young people with special educational needs in mainstream schools. We will also look at the education systems in other countries, particularly the United States, to consider whether they have a 'fairer' system than we do.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This is an outline of topics which will be covered in the 30 hours of teaching (including lectures and seminars)

An Introduction to Education and Social Justice
Social Justice and Inequality in wider society
Education and Social Justice: What is the right thing to do?
Social Justice and Inequality: childhood poverty and inequality
Inequalities and student outcomes: a national perspective
Inequalities and student outcomes: an international perspective
Schooling and social justice1: school choice
Schooling and social justice 2: school diversity
Education in the United States of America – an introduction
Reducing inequality in American schools? Holding schools accountable
Included or excluded? Fairness, inclusion and special education
Well-being and happiness? Pupils’ experiences of social justice in school
Higher Education and Social Justice
Not in Education, Employment and Training?
Learning a trade? What happened to vocational education
So what can be done to reduce educational inequalities?

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a systematic, coherent, critical and detailed knowledge and understanding of the interaction between social and educational inequalities at different stages of the life course
• Demonstrate conceptual understanding and engage critically with some of the key theoretical and philosophical ideas around issues of inequality and social justice through sustained and developed argument
• Demonstrate a systematic, coherent, critical and evaluative knowledge of the impact of major government policies which aim to reduce educational inequalities
• Critically examine the empirical research literature around interventions to reduce educational inequalities and use established techniques to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis

Indicative reading list

Smith, E., (2012 and 2018), Key Issues in Education and Social Justice, London: Sage (1st and 2nd editions)
Sandel, M.J., (2010), Justice: What’s the right thing to do? London: Penguin
Wolf, A., (2000), Does Education Matter? Myths about education and economic growth, London:
Penguin
Dorling, D., (2012) Fair play a Daniel Dorling reader on social justice, Bristol: Polity Press

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Students are presented with data related to educational inequalities in a British city. They are required to analyse the data in order to understand patterns of inequality and educational and social segregation.

Interdisciplinary

The module focuses on the politics and sociology of educational inequality

International

There is a brief focus on international patterns of educational inequality and implications for global social justice.

Subject specific skills

Students should demonstrate a critical understanding of:

• the diversity of learners and the complexities of the education process
• the complexity of the interaction between learning and local and global contexts, and the extent to which participants (including learners and teachers) can influence the learning process
• the societal and organisational structures and purposes of educational systems,
• data relating to children and young people
• the interrelationships between political, economic, cultural and ideological contexts in the lives of children and their families and communities

Transferable skills

Key transferable skills addressed in this module include:

• Analysis and decision making
• Basic numeracy skills
• Data handling
• Intellectual ability
• Problem solving