External factors

• What defines an ethnic group?

  Common history, customs, and identity
• Which ethnic groups generally perform better academically?

  Whites and Asians
• Among Asians, which groups perform better than others?

  Chinese and Indians outperform Pakistanis and Bangladeshis
• What is cultural deprivation?

  Lack of essential cultural skills for society
• How does cultural deprivation affect ethnic group achievement?

  It leads to inadequate socialization at home
• What skills are often lacking in children from low-income black families?

  Intellectual stimulation and enriching experiences
• How does not speaking English at home affect educational achievement?

  It may hold children back educationally
• What do Gillborn and Mirza (2000) note about Indian pupils?

  They perform well despite language barriers
• What is seen as a major cause of failure for many black children?

  Lack of motivation
• How does mainstream culture influence children's success in education?

  It instills ambition and competitiveness
• What attitude do some black children develop due to their socialization?

  A fatalistic, 'live for today' attitude
• What family structure is often linked to inadequate socialization in children?

  Dysfunctional family structure
• Who argues that lone mothers struggle financially?

  Moynihan (1965)
• What does the absence of a father figure lead to for boys?

  Lack of a male achievement role model
• How does Moynihan view the cycle of cultural deprivation?

  Inadequately socialized children become inadequate parents
• What does Roger Scruton attribute low achievement levels to?

  Failure to embrace mainstream British culture
• Why does Ken Pryce believe Asians achieve higher academically?

  More resistant to racism and higher self-worth
• What does Tony Sewell argue about fatherly nurturing?

  It is crucial for overcoming emotional difficulties
• What do street gangs offer to fatherless black boys?

  Perverse loyalty and love
• What does peer group pressure do to black boys according to Sewell?

  It creates barriers to educational success
• What does Sewell conclude about black children's aspirations?

  They need higher expectations to succeed
• What do critical race theories argue about black boys' failure?

  It is due to institutional racism in education
• How do Indian and Chinese families support their children academically?

  They have an 'Asian work ethic' and value education
• What does Lupton (2004) say about authority in Asian families?

  It mirrors the authority in schools
• What did a 2014 survey find about ethnic minority pupils' aspirations?

  They aspire to university more than whites
• What does Evans (2006) say about street culture in white W/C areas?


  It can be brutal and intimidating
• What does Driver (1977) argue about ethnicity and achievement?

  It ignores positive effects of ethnicity
• What does Lawrence (1982) challenge about Pryce's view?

  Underachievement is due to racism, not self-esteem
• What is material deprivation?


  Lack of physical necessities for life
• How do ethnic minorities face material deprivation?

  Through substandard housing and low income
• What did Palmer (2012) find about ethnic minorities and unemployment?

  They are almost twice as likely to be unemployed
• What percentage of ethnic minority children live in low-income households?

  Almost half
• What challenges do ethnic minorities face in employment?

  Shift work and low-paid homeworking
• How does material deprivation affect Pakistani pupils compared to Indian and white pupils?

  It explains why they tend to do worse
• What is notable about Indian pupils' backgrounds?

  They are often from better-off backgrounds
• What does the achievement of Indian and Chinese pupils suggest?

  Material deprivation does not override ethnicity
• How does racism contribute to poverty according to sociologists?

  It leads to social exclusion and worsens poverty
• What does Rex (1986) show about racial discrimination?

  It leads to social exclusion in housing
• How does discrimination affect employment opportunities for ethnic minorities?

  They are less likely to be offered interviews
• What is the impact of unemployment and low pay on children's education?

  It negatively affects their educational prospects