Social Class Differences - Internal Factors - Setting&Streaming Flashcards
What is streaming?
Streaming involves separating children into different ability groups or classes called ‘streams’.
Each ability group is taught separately from others for all subjects.
Studies show that the self-fulfilling prophecy is likely to occur when children are streamed.
What is setting?
Setting is when students as separated into different ability groups only for the core subjects (english, maths and science).
How does Howard Becker’s theory link with setting&streaming?
Becker says that teachers do jot usually see working class children as ideal pupils. They tend to see them as lacking ability and have low expectations of them. As a result, they are placed in a lower stream.
It is also difficult to move up a stream. Lower streams ‘get the message’ that their teachers have written them off as no hopers.
How does Douglas’ theory link with setting&streaming?
Douglas found that children placed in a lower stream at age 8 had suffered a decline in their IQ score by age 11.
He also found that children placed in a higher stream at age 8 had improved their IQ score by age 11.
How do middle class students benefit from streaming?
Middle class students benefit from streaming as they are more likely to be out in higher streams, and they fit the role of the ideal pupil. As a result, they develop a more positive self-concept, gain confidence, work harder and improve their grades.
What did Gillborn and Youdell say about streaming?
Gillborn and Youdell found that teachers (from two london secondary schools) use stereotypical notions of ‘ability’ to steam pupils.
They found that teachers are less likely to see working class (and black) pupils as having ability.
As a result, these pupils are more likely to be placed in lower streams and entered for lower-tier GCSE exams. This denied them the knowledge and opportunity that is needed to gain good grades.
What did Gillborn and Youdell link their finding to?
Gillborn and Youdell linked their findings/streaming to league tables.
League tables rank each school according to its exam performance.
Eg, in terms of the percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSE grades A*-C. This is known as the ‘A-to-C economy’.
What is the A-to-C economy?
Tye A-to-C economy refers to the amount of students who gain A* - C (9 - 4) grades at GCSE.
What is the educational triage?
The educational triage refers to the ‘sorting’ of students.
Students are separated into three groups:
1) those who will pass anyway + can be left to get on with it.
2) those with potential, they will need help to get a grade C or higher.
3) hopeless cases, students who will fail.
Teavhers use a stereotypical view of working class and black ability to influence how they sort streams.
This results in a self-fulfilling prophecy and failure.
Schools also need to gain a good league table position to get a good educational triage.
