Class and Attainment: Out of School

Question 1

Smith and Noble

Answer 1

Barriers to Learning. Material Deprivation. 
Working class children are materially deprived. They have '3 barriers to learning' wherein they cannot afford tutoring, trips or computers/internet which negatively effects their learning. For example, they may need a computer to do extra work to benefit their studies but not be able to do access one, giving them a disadvantage against their middle class peers, who can afford them.

Question 2

Sugarman

Answer 2

Gratification. Cultural Deprivation.
Working class students are culturally deprived. Instead of working hard to achieve success in later life, they desire 'Instant Gratification' wherein they want rewards now. This, for example, would lead the working class pupils to leave school earlier, wanting to earn money right away. In contrast middle class students want 'Deferred Gratification' and thus work harder in school, knowing that this will benefit them in later life.

Question 3

Bordieu

Answer 3

Parents Knowledge. Cultural Capital.
Working class students suffer from cultural capital, due to their parents lack of knowledge. Middle class parents have the knowledge and abilities to test their children, which benefits their studies, whereas working class parents do not; and their children have to be more independent with their learning. Sullivan backs this up, arguing that reading complex fiction, and watching documentaries helps develop skills needed at school.

Question 4

Reay

Answer 4

Disadvantaged students are less likely to go to University, and if they do they choose local, less quality universities where they often have to balance part time work.

Question 5

Smith and Noble Evaluation

Answer 5

Social policy such as pupil premium is designed to support students from poorer backgrounds. This works by allowing schools to access additional funding when they can provide evidence that it will help such learners. Meaning, material factors may be less significant today,

Question 6

Sugarmann Evaluation

Answer 6

It is difficult to agree with the idea that middle classes and working classes would have such different values in our society today- what about middle class families who came from lower class backgrounds?

Question 7

Bordieu Evaluation

Answer 7

This was supported by research carried out by Sullivan and Bell. However, this theory ignores that it could be the way teachers negatively label and treat working class students, rather than their culture causing lower attainment- and what about lower class students attaining better grades than higher class students?

Question 8

Raey Evaluation

Answer 8

This can explain the recent data from OFFA that shows that disadvantaged white boys are at least 5x less likely to go to University than other social groups.