Streaming

Question 1

What is streaming ?

Answer 1

Streaming involves separating children into different ability groups or classes called streams , each ability group is then taught separately from the others for all subjects , studies show the self fulfilling prophecy is very likely when children are streamed

Question 2

Who are likely to be placed in low streams and what does this lead to ?

Answer 2

Working class children are more likely to find themselves in lower streams and once placed in a low stream is is hard to move up to a higher stream which creates a self fulfilling prophecy in which the pupils live up to their teachers low expectations by underachieving

Question 3

What did Douglas find about about children placed in low streams ?

Answer 3

Douglas found that children placed in low stream at age 8 suffered a decline in IQ score by 11

Question 4

How do middle class pupils benefit from streaming ?

Answer 4

Middle class pupils tend to benefit from streaming because they are likely to be placed in high streams reflecting teachers views of them as ideal pupils . As a result they develop a positive self concept , gain confidence , work harder and improve their grades

Question 5

What did Douglas find out about children placed in high streams ?

Answer 5

Douglas found that children placed in higher streams at the age of 8 had an improved IQ score by 11

Question 6

What did Gillborn and Youdell find about streaming in London secondary schools ?

Answer 6

Gillborn and Youdell show how teachers use stereotypical notions of ability to stream pupils . They found teachers are less likely to see working class and black pupils as having ability to, as a result these pupils are more likely to be placed in low streams and entered for lower tier exams which widens the class gap in achievement

Question 7

What do Gillborn and youdell mean by publishing league tables leads to an a to c economy / educational triage ?

Answer 7

Publishing league tables creates what Gillborn and youdell call an A to C economy in schools where schools focus their time , effort and resources on those pupils they see as having the potential to get 5 grade c’s and so boost the schools league table position
Also Gillborn and Youdell refer to this process as educational triage which literally means sorting
Schools categorise pupils into 3 types ;
-those who will pass anyway and can be left to get on with it
-those with potential , who will be helped to get a grade C or better
-hopeless cases who are doomed to fail