Item C1 Until the 1980s, most education was provided by elected local education authorities, directed and
funded by central government. However, the 1988 education Reform Act began the marketization of
education, aimed at raising standards buying creasing parental choice and competition between
schools. After 2010, there was a substantial move towards the privatisation of education through
policies such as the growth of chains of academies run by private businesses. Some sociologists claim
that the main impact of marketization and privatisation policies has not been to raise standards but
instead increased educational inequality.
Applying material from item C1 and your own knowledge, evaluate the claim that marketization and
privatisation policies have increased educational inequality. (30)