class differences in achievement - streaming & subcultures

Question 1

What is meant by ‘Streaming’

Answer 1

• Streaming involves separating children into different ability groups or classes called ‘streams’. Each ability group is then taught differently from the other. Working-class children tend to be streamed into lower ability classes, whereas middle-class children tend to be streamed into higher ability classes.
• A self-fulfilling prophecy then arises and those in low-ability classes (typically the working-class) will underachieve and those in higher ability classes (typically
  middle-class) will do well

Question 2

What did Gillborn and Youdell find about streaming?

Answer 2

showed that teachers use stereotypical notions of ‘ability’ to stream pupils, and they found that teachers were less likely to see the working-class and black children as having ability. As a result, these students were more likely to be placed into lower streams and entered for lower tier GCSEs.

Question 3

How is streaming linked to league tables?

Answer 3

To be in a good position, it’s all about the percentage of pupils who achieve A (star) to C. Schools need a good position in the league tables to attract pupils and funding.

This publishing of league tables has led to the ‘A-to-C economy’ whereby schools focus their time, effort and resources on those pupils that have the potential to get 5 grade Cs or more to boost the school’s league table position

Question 4

What is the ‘educational triage’ according to Gillborn and Youdell?

Answer 4

where students are ‘sorted’ into 3 groups:

 Those who will pass anyway and can be left to get on with it
 Those with potential, who will be helped to get a grade C or better
 Hopeless cases, who are doomed to fail

Question 5

How does educational triage cause working class underachievement?

Answer 5

This educational triage becomes the basis for streaming.

Teacher’s beliefs about the lack of ability of the working-class pupils are used to segregate them into lower streams or sets, where they receive less attention, support and
resources.

This results in lower levels of achievement for the working class.

Question 5

What did Lacey identify about pupil subcultures?

Answer 5

Pupil subcultures often emerge as a response to the way pupils have been labelled

Differentiation: categorising pupils on ability and attitude/behaviour. ‘More able’ pupils are given high status by being placed in a high stream, whereas those deemed as ‘less able’ are placed in a low stream