Topic 5: Organisation of teaching and learning Flashcards
What are the results of pupils being grouped into teaching groups?
Shape what is taught; impacting their success, both in the sense of qualifications and further opportunities.
What are the main ways of grouping?
1 - Mixed ability: All pupils are taught together, allowing a broader social mix and the weaker students to become involved.
2 - Streaming: In a stream for all or most lessons. So the most able aren’t held back.
3 - Setting: Ability groups for particular subjects so teaching can be tailored to the exam tier.
4 - Within-class grouping: More common in primary but can affect self-esteem
What has been the effect of league tables on groupings?
It has increased the tendency for schools to separate pupils on ability.
This has been done due to the need to compete in a marketplace.
What did Ireson (2002) find about the nature of groupings?
It is not always on ability but also on behaviour - it is a way of socially controlling pupils.
It benefits the more able but demoralises those in lower sets as they receive little challenge or stimulation.
What did Tikhy et al (2006) find about African-Caribbean pupils?
They are underrepresented in higher-ability sets and higher examination tiers.
What did Hallam et al (2004) find about what primary school pupils felt about groupings?
1 - People wanted to be the top in reading for status and superiority.
2 - Social attitudes and attitudes towards peers were healthier in non-streamed classes.
3 - The more streams there were, the more negative the attitudes of lower streamers.
What do ability groupings in secondary schools suggest?
1 - Streaming plays a major role in polarising pro and anti-school attitudes.
2 - Produces more negative than positive attitudes in Maths - everyone wants to move sets.
3 - Students prefer mixed ability teaching.
Does ability grouping have that much of an impact on attainment?
Not really.
However, the winners tend to be white and middle class; the losers are ethnic minorities and working class.
