Topic 2: Class - Material Deprivation Flashcards
What are the “barriers to learning” that Smith and Noble (1995) identify?
- Families who cannot afford uniforms, trips, or equipment are more likely to be isolated and bullied - their learning suffers.
- Low income makes it less likely that a child has access to internet and resources outside of school.
- Marketisation: Better resourced schools are oversubscribed and are in wealthier areas.
- Older siblings may have part-time jobs or have to look after youngers.
Despite education being free, why can we say that there is still not equality of opportunity?
Supplementary costs are considerable.
- Uniforms cost.
- Textbooks and trips cost.
Thus, those who can afford this, will inevitably do better.
What did Washbrook and Waldfogel find for the Sutton Trust in 2010?
31% of differences in scores between lower-income and middle-income 5y/o on vocab tests can be explained by material deprivation.
What advantages did Hirsch (2007) identify for the wealthy?
- More likely to have structured out-of-school activities.
- These activities meant they learned life skills and gained confidence.
- More space at home to complete school work.
- More likely to benefit from private ed.
What did Hirsch claim about material disadvantage outside of school?
That it was key. The quality of the school only accounted for 14% of class differences in achievement.
What is an example of labelling and SFP?
Kids were labelled “posh” or “chavs” based on material inequality.
Those who saw themselves as “chavs” did not expect to do well.
What is a major example of material inequality that Kynaston (2014) points out?
The wealthy can afford private education.
Only 7% of pupils in Britain attend private schools - it’s not accessible (only 1 in 12 gets a means-tested bursary).
What benefit does private education actually give? (Sutton Trust, 2010)
Private-school students were 55x more likely to go to Oxbridge than those entitled to FSM.
And 22x more likely to get into a high-ranked uni.
What did Kynaston and the Sutton Trust find about when pupils go to university?
State schools pupils tend to do better than private school students.
Kynaston: Private school pupils are over-promoted.
How might the middle class get a material advantage in state schools? (Mike Britland, 2013)
Middle class parents can afford to pay private tutors. Often done in the summer so their child doesn't fall behind.
How have social policies actually increased the material disadvantage?
Middle class parents are more likely to be able to afford a house in the catchment area of a successful school.
