ethnicity and achievement

• Which ethnic group has the highest achievement level at GCSE?


  Chinese pupils
• How do Indian pupils perform compared to the national average?


  They perform above the national average
• How do pupils from mixed ethnicity backgrounds perform academically?


  They tend to perform above the national average
• What is the achievement level of black pupils at GCSE?


  Fewer black pupils achieve five A* - C passes than any other major ethnic group
• Which ethnic groups are least likely to continue onto higher education?

  Roma, white, and Bangladeshi pupils
• Despite lower continuation rates to higher education, how do Bangladeshi pupils perform at GCSE?


  They achieve above average at GCSE
• What does labelling theory state regarding teachers' expectations of minority ethnic groups?


  • Teachers have different expectations of pupils from minority ethnic groups
  • Negative labels can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies of failure
  • Higher expectations can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies of success
• Who found that teachers sometimes negatively label black students?

  Gilbourn
• How are Afro-Caribbean students perceived by teachers?


  They are seen as a challenge to school authority and are more likely to be excluded
• What expectations do teachers have of Asian students?


  Teachers have higher expectations of Asian students
• What is the implication of a negative label on a student's academic performance?


  It can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure
• How is the school curriculum described in relation to ethnic minorities?

  It is seen as ethnocentric, favoring mainstream, middle-class white culture
• What languages are primarily taught in schools that may reflect a European-centric curriculum?


  French and German
• How do school assemblies and holidays reflect cultural bias?


  They fit with the culture, history, and religious holidays of white middle-class Protestants
• What impact does the curriculum have on students from ethnic minorities?


  It may leave them feeling that their culture isn’t valued
• What do some sociologists argue about British education?


  They see it as institutionally racist
• What did Wright find regarding Asian girls in the classroom?


  They received less attention from teachers
• How did Afro-Caribbean boys experience punishment in school?


  They are more likely to be punished and sent out of the classroom
• What can internal factors lead to for ethnic minorities?


  They can lead to low self-esteem
• What did Coard argue about black students in British schools?


  They are made to feel inferior
• What did Mirza find about black girls' self-esteem and aspirations?


  They had positive self-esteem and high aspirations
• What strategies did black girls use to deal with racism?


  They developed strategies to cope with racism
• What did Mirza conclude about the factors affecting black girls' achievement?


  It was not low self-esteem but unwillingness to ask for help or choose certain subjects
• What barrier can language present for immigrant families?


  It can be a barrier when they first arrive in the country
• What did the Swann Report find regarding language and progress for later generations?


  Language didn’t affect progress for later generations
• What did Driver and Ballard find about Asian children whose first language was not English?


  They were as good at English as their classmates by age 16
• How might dialects or accents influence teacher expectations?


  They might lead to negative labelling of students
• What do Driver and Ballard say about family life in Asian communities?


  Close-knit extended families and high parental expectations increase achievement
• What did Archer & Francis find about Chinese parents' views on education?


  They see education as very important, creating a desire for achievement
• What do some sociologists argue about family structures in Afro-Caribbean communities?


  High levels of divorce and single-parenthood could result in material deprivation
• How might material deprivation affect Afro-Caribbean boys?


  They are more likely to join gangs in search of a male role model
• What challenges do Afro-Caribbean mothers face regarding their children's education?


  They may be doing shift work and cannot supervise homework
• What did the Swann Report find about socio-economic status and Afro-Caribbean pupils?


  Socio-economic status was a factor in their low levels of achievement
• Which ethnic groups are more likely to be in lower class positions?

  Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Afro-Caribbean groups
• What are some consequences of being in lower class positions?


  Poor housing, periods of unemployment, poverty, and material deprivation
• What did the Joseph Rowntree Foundation find regarding ethnic minority workers?


  They often face barriers to promotion in low-paid jobs
• What do free school meals indicate?


  They are a good indicator of material deprivation
• Which ethnic groups are more likely to be in higher class positions?


  Chinese, African Asian, and Indian groups
• What is the likelihood of experiencing material deprivation for Chinese, African Asian, and Indian groups?


  They are less likely to experience material deprivation