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OCR GCSE Sociology (J696) — legacy/withdrawn spec · Education
Mini-Lesson

Education

This mini-lesson covers the sociology of education: roles and functions, functionalism vs Marxism, in-school processes (labelling, self-fulfilling prophecy), and achievement by class, gender and ethnicity.

Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Some questions are multiple-choice, some are sort-and-match games, and a few use simple research-methods maths (percentages and sample figures). Press Start when you're ready.

Functions

What is education for?

  • Functionalism: solidarity (Durkheim), skills, meritocracy (Parsons, Davis & Moore).
  • Marxism: hidden curriculum & correspondence principle (Bowles & Gintis).

Spec note (please read): OCR withdrew GCSE Sociology (J696); its final exams were in summer 2018 and it was not redeveloped for the current 9–1 GCSEs. This lesson teaches mainstream GCSE Sociology content that matches the old J696 topic. If you are sitting a current exam, check whether your school uses AQA or Eduqas instead.

Quick check

Whose idea?

?Which Marxist idea links the hidden curriculum to the workplace?
Processes

Labelling & the self-fulfilling prophecy

  • Labelling; self-fulfilling prophecy (Rosenthal & Jacobson); setting/streaming → subcultures.
Sort it

Sort the explanation

Tap a factor, then whether it explains class, gender or ethnicity gaps.

💷 Class

⚧ Gender

🌍 Ethnicity

Quick check

In-school factor

?A pupil labelled 'weak' gives up and underachieves. This is a…
Achievement

Explaining achievement gaps

  • Class: material/cultural deprivation, cultural capital (Bourdieu), speech codes (Bernstein).
  • Gender and ethnicity patterns.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 200 pupils, 148 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (148 ÷ 200) × 100.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage change

✎A girls' top-grade index rose from 55 to 66 over ten years. Calculate the percentage increase. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: % change = (change ÷ start) × 100 = ((66 − 55) ÷ 55) × 100.
Match it

Match concept to perspective

Tap a concept, then its perspective/theorist.

Statement
Answer
Calculate

Your turn — response rate

✎A researcher posts 600 questionnaires and 468 are completed and returned. Calculate the response rate as a percentage. Give a whole number.
%
Hint: response rate = (returned ÷ sent) × 100 = (468 ÷ 600) × 100.
Cultural capital

Cultural capital & speech codes

  • Bourdieu — cultural capital.
  • Bernstein — elaborated vs restricted codes.
Calculate

Your turn — percentage

✎In a survey of 320 students, 80 agreed with a statement. What percentage agreed? Give a whole number.
%
Hint: percentage = (part ÷ whole) × 100 = (80 ÷ 320) × 100.
Quick check

Class

?Which concept (Bourdieu) explains why middle-class pupils may do better?
Calculate

Your turn — sample size

✎A sampling frame lists 900 people. The researcher takes a one-in-three (1/3) sample. How many people are in the sample?
people
Hint: sample = 900 × 0.3333333333333333.
Quick check

Perspective

?A functionalist sees education mainly as…
Recap

Education — the big ideas

Functions: Durkheim, Parsons, Davis & Moore

Marxism: hidden curriculum, correspondence principle

Processes: labelling → self-fulfilling prophecy; subcultures

Gaps: class (capital, codes), gender, ethnicity

You've covered the sociology of education. Press Finish.

🏆

Mini-lesson complete!

⭐⭐⭐

You've worked through Education for GCSE Sociology (OCR J696 legacy). 🎉

Your stars: 0 / 0

Next: test yourself in the Evaluate stage Confidence Quiz, then lock it in with Verify.

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