Details - The assignment critically evaluates current policy, research and practice on education and inequity in a specific area of own professional setting, and then critically reflects on own and others' responses to addressing issues of educational inequity.

(Details of the assignment and the assessment criteria are provided in the module handbook.)

This module communicates the relationship between educational outcomes and social inequalities. It discusses sociological perspectives on education, with a particular emphasis on how experiences and outcomes of education are affected by social and cultural factors (such as family and community practices). Education plays a vital role in both shaping individual and collective identities and in reflecting and reinforcing dominant societal values, and this module will consider a variety of different perspectives on these critical issues. The module is designed to get students to consider the following questions in relation to their own professional experiences and that of their learners: What is the place of education in society? How does it relate to social inequality? Do education systems provide opportunities for all, or do they reflect, or even reinforce, wider inequalities?

A variety of learning and teaching methods are used such as presentations by specialist practitioners, group discussions, case studies, problem based learning activities and participant centred investigations. There is a strong emphasis on activity-focused learning and participants are expected to actively engage in all sessions. In addition, participants are required to engage in independent study so as to consolidate and build upon their learning in taught sessions. This takes the form of undertaking follow-up tasks and work based self-assessments and reading key texts and research papers.

- University Library for a range of relevant texts, e-books and academic journals
- Materials and resources on the module VLE
- Access to academic and library support

Ainscow, M., Dyson, A., Goldrick, S. and West, M. (2011) Developing Equitable Education Systems, London: Routedge.
Arshad, R., Wrigley, T. and Pratt, L. (2012) Social Justice Re-Examined: Dilemmas and Solutions for the Classroom, Stoke-on-Trent, Trentham Books.
Apple, M.W. (2011) Power and Education, Second Edition, London: Routledge.
Ball, S. (Ed) (2004) RoutledgeFalmer Reader in Sociology of Education, Abingdon: RoutledgeFalmer.
Moore, R. (2004) Education and Society: Issues and Explanations in the Sociology of Education, Cambridge: Polity.
Smith, E. (2012) Key Issues in Education and Social Justice, London: Sage.
Wilkinson, R. and Pickett, K. (2010) The Spirit Level. Why Equality is Better for Everyone, London: Penguin.