social class - external factors

Question 1

Penny and Francis (2010)

Answer 1

social class is the strongest predictor of educational achievement in the UK.

Question 2

what % of failing schools are in deprived areas?

Answer 2

90%

Question 3

DoE (2012)

Answer 3

barely a third of children eligible for FSM achieve 5 or more A*-C GCSE’s.

Question 4

Before compulsory education and training to 18, what could be said about HE

Answer 4

only 50% of WC stayed in full time education beyond 16, 90% of MC students. This obviously affected the numbers of each in HE. In 2008 70% of those accepted came from MC backgrounds, only 5% came from unskilled backgrounds.

Question 5

Material Deprivation – refers to the lack of available resources, such as adequate income and housing. WASHBROOK AND WALDFOGEL (2010)

Answer 5

Housing – overcrowding can make it difficult to do educational activities, play, do homework. Cold or damp can cause ill health and consequently absenteeism. Families in temporary accommodation suffer more psychological distress and changes of school, disrupting education.
Diet and Health – poorer diets and higher levels of sickness may mean tiredness and difficulty in concentrating at school
Educational resources – books, toys, PC’s and internet access and school trips may be lacking, the difference between individuals and their peers e.g. uniform could affect self- esteem and motivation.

Question 6

Parental attitudes - In a large-scale study of British children entitled ‘The Home and the School’, J.W.B. Douglas (1964) claimed

Answer 6

that middle-class children received more attention and encouragement from their parents during their early years. This provided a foundation for high attainment in their later years .

Question 7

what did douglas conclude?

Answer 7

Based on questionnaires given to over 5000 parents, Douglas concluded that the degree of parents’ interest in their children’s education was the single, most important factor affecting attainment. His research suggested that, in general, middle-class parents showed more interest than working-class parents

Question 8

See and Davies(2012)

Answer 8

showed that this remains true for today – lack of parental involvement and low expectations can hinder childrens progress. MC parents visit the school frequently to discuss progress, become additionally interested when their children have to select options and encourage children to stay in education for as long as possible.

Question 9

Basil Bernstein(1971)

Answer 9

restricted code + elaborated code

Question 10

Pierre Bourdieu(1984) CULTURAL CAPITAL

Answer 10

argues that both cultural and material factors contribute to educational achievement, they are interrelated. He uses the concept of ‘capital’ to explain why the middle class is more successful and identifies 2 more types – educational and cultural capital.

Question 11

how does Bourdieu use the term Capital?

Answer 11

Bourdieu uses the term cultural capital to refer to the knowledge, attitudes, values, language, tastes and abilities of the middle class – because like wealth it confers advantage on those who possess it. MC children are socialised into a ‘habitus’ that give them an advantage in school because it values these abilities and intellectual interests

Question 12

Alice Sullivan (2001)

Answer 12

used questionnaires to assess the cultural capital of 465 students from 4 comprehensives. She asked them about their TV viewing, reading and whether they visit museums and theatres. The pupils with the greatest cultural capital were the children of graduates