Streaming Flashcards
Describe the concept of streaming in education.
Streaming involves separating children into different ability groups or classes, known as ‘streams’, where each group is taught separately for all subjects.
Explain the impact of streaming on working-class children.
Working-class children are often seen by teachers as lacking ability, leading to low expectations and placement in lower streams, which can result in underachievement.
How does the self-fulfilling prophecy relate to streaming?
The self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when students live up to the low expectations set by teachers, particularly in lower streams, leading to underachievement.
Define the term ‘ideal pupil’ as used in the context of streaming.
An ‘ideal pupil’ is typically a student who is perceived by teachers, often middle-class, as having high ability and potential, leading to higher placement in streams.
What evidence did Douglas provide regarding the effects of streaming on IQ scores?
Douglas found that children placed in a lower stream at age 8 experienced a decline in their IQ score by age 11, indicating negative effects of low expectations.
Do middle-class pupils benefit from streaming?
Yes, middle-class pupils tend to be placed in higher streams, which reflects teachers’ positive views of them, leading to improved self-concept and academic performance.
Explain the challenges faced by children in lower streams.
Children in lower streams often find it difficult to move up due to being locked into their teachers’ low expectations, which reinforces their underachievement.
How does streaming affect a child’s self-concept?
Streaming can enhance a child’s self-concept if they are placed in higher streams, as it fosters confidence and motivation to work harder.
What is the relationship between streaming and teacher expectations?
Teachers’ expectations significantly influence student placement in streams, with lower expectations often leading to lower stream placements for working-class children.
Describe the long-term effects of being placed in a lower stream.
Being placed in a lower stream can lead to a decline in academic performance and self-esteem, as students internalize the low expectations of their teachers.
Describe the findings of Gillborn and Youdell’s study on streaming in London secondary schools.
The study found that teachers use stereotypical notions of ‘ability’ to stream pupils, leading to working-class and black pupils being less likely to be seen as having ability. Consequently, these pupils are often placed in lower streams and entered for lower-tier GCSEs, which limits their knowledge and opportunities for achieving good grades.
Explain the impact of streaming on educational achievement according to Gillborn and Youdell.
Streaming negatively impacts educational achievement by placing certain groups, particularly working-class and black pupils, in lower streams. This results in these pupils receiving less knowledge and fewer opportunities, widening the class gap in academic success.
Define the ‘A-to-C economy’ as described by Gillborn and Youdell.
The ‘A-to-C economy’ refers to the competitive environment created by the publication of exam league tables, which rank schools based on their exam performance, particularly the percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades A* to C. Schools strive for good positions in these tables to attract pupils and funding.
How does the publication of exam league tables affect schools’ behavior according to the study?
The publication of exam league tables pressures schools to improve their rankings, leading them to focus on strategies that may prioritize certain students over others, often disadvantaging working-class and black pupils in the process.
Do teachers’ perceptions of ability influence student placement in schools?
Yes, teachers’ perceptions of ability, often influenced by stereotypes, significantly affect student placement in streams, with biases leading to lower expectations and opportunities for certain groups of pupils.
Explain the relationship between streaming and the class gap in achievement.
Streaming contributes to the class gap in achievement by systematically placing disadvantaged groups in lower streams, which limits their access to quality education and resources, ultimately resulting in poorer academic outcomes.
Describe the concept of educational triage as defined by Gillborn and Youdell.
Educational triage is a process where schools prioritize their resources on students perceived to have the potential to achieve five grade Cs, thereby improving the school’s league table position. It involves categorizing students into three groups: those who will pass without help, those with potential who will receive support, and those deemed hopeless cases.
Explain the implications of the A-to-C economy on student categorization.
The A-to-C economy leads schools to categorize students based on their perceived ability to achieve grade Cs. This results in a focus on those with potential while neglecting others, particularly working-class and black pupils, who may be unfairly labeled as hopeless cases.
How do teachers typically categorize students in the educational triage system?
Teachers categorize students into three types: those who will pass regardless of support, those who have potential and will be assisted to achieve a grade C or better, and hopeless cases who are expected to fail and often placed in lower sets.
Define the term ‘triage’ in the context of education as used by Gillborn and Youdell.
In the educational context, ‘triage’ refers to the sorting process where schools allocate their time and resources based on students’ perceived potential to succeed, similar to how medical resources are allocated in emergencies.
Do schools focus on all students equally in the educational triage system?
No, schools do not focus on all students equally. They concentrate their efforts on those they believe can achieve certain grades, often neglecting those they consider unlikely to succeed.
Explain the potential biases in the educational triage process.
The educational triage process can be biased, as it often relies on stereotypes about working-class and black pupils, leading to these students being labeled as hopeless cases and receiving less support.
Explain the concept of educational triage in the context of league table positions.
Educational triage refers to the practice where schools prioritize resources and attention towards students who are more likely to achieve higher exam results, often neglecting those deemed less capable, particularly working-class pupils.
Describe the impact of streaming on working-class pupils’ educational outcomes.
Streaming leads to the segregation of students into different ability groups, where working-class pupils are often placed in lower streams, resulting in less attention, support, and resources, ultimately contributing to lower levels of achievement.
Define the term ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ as it relates to education.
A self-fulfilling prophecy in education occurs when a teacher’s expectations about a student’s ability influence the student’s performance, often leading to the student fulfilling those expectations, whether positive or negative.
