Ethnicity and achievement - External factors

Question 1

In terms of material factors, what did Flaherty (2004) find about (i) Pakistanis and Bangladeshis and (ii) BAME in general?

Answer 1

(i) They are 3x more likely to be in the poorest 1/5 of the population.
(ii) 15% of ethnic minorities live in overcrowded conditions, compared to 2% of whites.

Question 2

In 2006, what percentage of Bangladeshi students were entitled to FSM?

Answer 2

56%

Question 3

In 2012/13, what fraction of BAME were living in poverty?

Answer 3

Roughly 2/5.

Question 4

What did Gillborn + Mirza (2008) note about ethnic factors on achievement?

Answer 4

- Whilst social class is the main influence on attainment, social class factors do not override influence of ethnic inequality.
= same social class but different ethnic background still show marked differences in attainment.

Question 5

How would language and intellectual skills affect educational attainment?

Answer 5

• Difficulty in completing school work and communicating.
• Teachers may mistake language difficulties for lack of ability: causing lower expectations to develop.
• Lack of stimulation and experience –> poorly equipped for school –> reasoning, problem-solving skills.

Question 6

In 2013, what percentage of primary school students did not have English as a first language?

Answer 6

18%

Question 7

In 2013, what percentage of secondary school students did not have English as a first language?

Answer 7

13%

Question 8

Despite many saying language is a hindrance on educational achievement, what did Mirza + Gillborn (2000) find?

Answer 8

Indian pupils with EAL only just performed worse than those with English as a first language.

Question 9

Despite many saying language is a hindrance on educational achievement, what did the Department for Educational Standards (DfES) note?

Answer 9

• Impact of language declines as children get older

- EAL pupils outperformed native English speakers in EBacc.

Question 10

What did Moynihan (1965) note about BAME family structure?

Answer 10

• Black families headed by a lone mother struggle to provide inadequate care as they are tied up trying to money without the presence of a male breadwinner.
• -> repeated cycle of failure.

Question 11

What did Scruton (1986) note about BAME underachievement?

Answer 11

He sees it as a result of not embracing mainstream British culture.

Question 12

What did Pryce (1979) note about BAME underachievement?

Answer 12

• Asians are more resistant to racism and their culture values self-worth.
  ; blacks less resistant = low self-worth/esteem,
  ; colonialism = black culture destroyed by slavery

Question 13

What did Pilkington (1997) note about BAME parental support?

Answer 13

Pupils from BAME enjoy greater parental support.

Question 14

What did Bhatti (1999) find with South Asian parental support?

Answer 14

• Found they supported their children greater, but also found that they lacked understanding of the system.
• When they did get involved they found it unwelcoming.

Question 15

What did Vincent et al. (2011) find about m/c black parents?

Answer 15

• Found they were particularly concerned with their child’s schooling, extra-curricular activities.
  = would actively want to meet teachers, insisted on high standards.
  = but found teachers expected them to know less about their child’s education and expected them to care less.

Question 16

What did Standen + Patel (2010) note about black communities?

Answer 16

• High levels of support for education; accessing opportunities and building self-esteem through fostering a positive racial and cultural identity

Question 17

In 2013, what percentage of those accepted UK university applicants were from BAME?

Answer 17

24%; double their proportion.

Question 18

How are Asian families said to have positive impact on educational achievement?

Answer 18

• Close-knit extended families who support education and encourage high levels of attainment
• Creating an ‘Asian work ethic’

Question 19

What did Lupton (2004) note about Asian families?

Answer 19

• Adult authority in Asian families similar to that of schools = respectful towards elders
• -> more respect for school behavioural policies

Question 20

Although some would suggest Asian families have a positive impact on educational attainment, how would Khan say it’s negative?

Answer 20

He says Asian families are stress ‘ridden’.

Question 21

What did Lupton (2004) say about lower w/c white British families?

Answer 21

• Those in the most disadvantaged areas have a negative view towards education

Question 22

Lupton studied 4 schools of varying ethnicities, what did she find in the ‘white school’ ?

Answer 22

Teachers from the ‘white school’ reported higher levels of poor behaviour despite having fewer on FSM
= blamed on parental support.

Question 23

According to Sutton Trust (2004), what percentage of BAME 11-16 year old’s aspired for Uni compared to their white counterparts?

Answer 23

BAME - 80%

Whites - 68%

Question 24

How did Sewell explain black boys underachievement?

Answer 24

• A lack of ‘tough love’
  = hard to overcome emotional and behavioural difficulties of adolescence.
  |
• Street gangs offer a ‘perverse loyalty and love’
  ; role models on TV; anti-school black masculinity
• Many put under anti-educational peer group pressure; ‘selling out’ if you went against it.
• While one group watches MTV, Asians will be working.

Question 25

Critically evaluate external factors on ethnic underachievement

Answer 25

1) Driver (1977) - lone parent families actually motivates children.
2) Lawrence (1982) - black underachievement due to racism.
3) Keddie - cultural deprivation is a blame game.