Influences on the curriculum — practice questions

Hidden curriculum defined: Unofficial norms — obedience, punctuality, competition, acceptance of hierarchy.

Marxist case: Bowles & Gintis — prepares docile workforce; more important than subject content for capitalism; social control over working-class pupils.

Counter: Formal curriculum teaches literacy, skills, exam technique needed for jobs; pupil agency — not all accept messages (Willis); national curriculum reforms aim at standards not just control.

Evaluation: Hidden curriculum real and significant especially for socialisation — but overstated if ignoring cognitive gains and diverse school cultures.

Conclusion: Important complement to formal curriculum, not always most important for every pupil.

Part (a): Calculation

• Formula: (Number of Female Entries / Total Entries) × 100
• Working: (8,740 / 38,000) × 100
• Answer: 23.0% of A-level Physics students were female.

Part (b): Explanation

1. Identify the Pattern: The calculation shows that females are significantly underrepresented in Physics (23.0%). The table also shows they are overrepresented in Sociology, where they make up 75% of entries ((31,500 / 42,000) * 100). This demonstrates a clear gender divide in subject choice.
2. Define 'Gendered Curriculum': This pattern is a prime example of a 'gendered curriculum'. Feminist sociologists use this term to describe how the curriculum reinforces gender stereotypes and channels pupils into subject choices and future careers that are seen as appropriate for their gender.
3. Link to Sociological Concepts: This gendering is influenced by both the formal and hidden curriculum.
   • Formal Curriculum: Textbooks and teaching materials in subjects like science may lack female role models, which feminists like Heaton and Lawson call a 'woman-less' curriculum.
   • Hidden Curriculum: Teacher expectations, gendered language in the classroom, and peer group pressure can reinforce the idea that Physics is a 'masculine' subject while Sociology is 'feminine'.
4. Evaluate Wider Impact: This curricular divide has significant long-term consequences. It contributes to occupational segregation in the labour market and the gender pay gap, as male-dominated STEM fields often lead to higher-paid jobs. Thus, the curriculum plays a role in reproducing patriarchal structures in wider society.