Social Class Differences In Educational Achievement

Question 1

What are working-class children less likely to do?

Answer 1

• Be in nursery/pre-school
• Leave school with 5 or more A*-C(9-4)
• Progress to university

Question 2

What are working-class children more likely to do?

Answer 2

• Start school unable to read
• Fall back on numeracy
• Suffer mental health issues, illness, poor attendance + performance
• Placed in lower sets
• Study vocational subjects
• Achieve lower SATs + GCSEs
• Attend a failing school
• Shorter educational career

Question 3

What are government findings on social class differences in achievement?

Answer 3

• Children from poorest homes hear 13 million words by 4, while affluent households hear 45 million
• Children of higher professions are 2-3X more likely than children of manual workers to gain A*-C(9-4) at GCSEs
• 2016 Durham university study; Privately educated children are 2 years ahead of students in state sector by 16

Question 4

What is Perry and Francis’ research into social class differences in educational achievement?

Answer 4

• Social class remains most significant, all 3 political parties find it concerning
• 2010 Education Secretary Michael Gove stated that ‘rich, thick kids’ do better than ‘poor, clever’ children before they start school

Question 5

What are the recent statistical studies on social class and educational achievement?

Answer 5

• 2010 National Equality Panel, Sodha + Margo; By 3, poor children are 1 year behind richer ones in communication
• 2010 BBC; In disadvantaged areas, 50% of children begin primary school without necessary language + communication
• Cassen, Kingdon, Kerr + West; Poorer children tend to attend low-performing schools in deprived areas