class + achievement

• middle class children perform better than the working class and it is suspected to be due to being able to afford private education.
• Only 7% of British children are in private education but account for half of those that enter Oxbridge universities. Sutton Trust (2011) found over 3 years, Eton sent 211 to Oxbridge and 1300 state schools sent none.
• evidence of external factor - material deprivation:

  • tanner (2003) - cost of computers, trips and uniforms were heavier burdens on poorer families as wells as extracurriculars - meant that they are left at a disadvantage.
  • Flaherty (2004) - 20% of those eligible for Free School Meals do not take it in fear of being bullied.
  • UCAS (2012) - 8.6% decline in applicants due to increased tuition fees.
• evidence of internal factor - labelling:

  • rist (1970) - american kindergarten, good pupils labelled positively as ‘Tigers’, poorer pupils labelled negatively as ‘Clowns’.
  • cicourel and kituse (1963) - guidance counsellors classified students into future careers based partially on social class.
  • rosenthal and jacobsen (1968) - students labelled positively as ‘Spurters’ achieved more progress than the control groups.
• self fulfilling prophecy:

  1. behaviour is observed and the label is attached.
  2. behaviour and label is reinforced.
  3. student internalises label and chooses to reject or accept.
  4. if the student accepts and performs according to expectations = SFP.