Differential educational achievement of social groups in contemporary society.

Question 1

what is used as an indicator of class in education?

Answer 1

Free school meals (fsm)

Question 2

what do Penny and Francis argue?

Answer 2

that social class is the strongest predictor of educational achievement.

Question 3

give two examples of external factors which affect social class differences in educational achievement.

Answer 3

• Material deprivation.

- Cultural deprivation.

Question 4

give two examples of internal factors which affect social class differences in educational achievement.

Answer 4

• Teacher/pupil relationship.

- Organisation of teaching and learning (streaming/setting).

Question 5

How is poverty closely linked with educational underachievement? give statistical evidence.

Answer 5

• DoE, 2012 found that less than 1/3 of children who receive FSM achieve 5+ A*-C grades.
• 2008, 70% of HE students came from MC whereas only 5% came from WC backgrounds.

Question 6

Give supporting evidence to material deprivation, housing.

Answer 6

Waldfogel and Washbrook (2010).
overcrowding can make it harder to do homework at home. Families in temporary accommodation can suffer psychological distress.

Question 7

Give supporting evidence to material deprivation, diet and health.

Answer 7

Waldfogel and Washbrooke (2010).
poorer diets and higher levels of sickness may mean days of school and low levels of concentration especially if the student has a PT job.

Question 8

Give supporting evidence to material deprivation, educational resources.

Answer 8

Waldfogel and Washbrook (2010).

Books, PC’s and trips may be lacking to those who cant afford them so they become limited in their performance.

Question 9

Give supporting evidence for cultural deprivation, parental attitudes.

Answer 9

J.W.B Douglas (1964)
parental attitudes Mc children receive more attention and encouragement from their parents during their early years, providing a foundation for high attainment, WC children didn’t receive this encouragement.

Question 10

Give supporting evidence for cultural deprivation, parents’ level of education.

Answer 10

Mc parents understand the system more than WC so they will deal confidently with situations. Davies (2012) argues that MC parents will be more likely to attend parents evening etc.

Question 11

Give supporting evidence for differences in social class subcultures.

Answer 11

Barry Sugarman (1970)
WC subculture= fatalistic, present-time oriented and concerned with immediate gratification. 
Margo (2010) similar attitudes can be seen today, which hinder the jobs and qualifications that people undertake.

Question 12

what is language use?

Answer 12

Basil Bernstein (1971) identified two forms of language.

• Elaborate code.
• Restricted code.

Question 13

What was Bernstein’s view on language code?

Answer 13

MC children were socialized into both elaborate and restricted code, whereas WC children have only been socialised into the restricted code and so cannot communicate fully with MC and the bourgeoisie.