Material deprivation

• What is material deprivation?

  Refers to poverty and a lack of material necessities such as adequate housing and income.
• Stats on material deprivation

  33% of children on free school meals gained 5 GCSEs

  barely a third of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) - a widely used measure of child poverty - achieve five or more GCSEs at A*-C including English and maths, as against nearly two thirds of other pupils.

  • According to Jan Flaherty (2004), money problems in the family are a significant factor in younger children's non-attendance at school.
• How does housing effect achievement

  Direct Effects: Overcrowding makes it harder for children to study due to lack of space for educational activities, disrupted sleep, and fewer opportunities for parental involvement.

  Parents in overcrowded or temporary housing may work longer hours or feel disconnected from the school environment, making it difficult to support their child's progress.

  Schools with many working-class pupils often have less effective communication with parents.

  
  

  Indirect Effects: Poor housing conditions, such as cold or damp homes, increase the risk of health issues like accidents, infections, and psychological distress.

  These health problems can lead to more school absences and hinder the child's development.

  Temporary accommodation, which may involve frequent moves, disrupts the child's education due to changing schools.
• Stats on housing effecting achievement

  A study found that 73% of young people facing housing issues struggle with school attendance, with one in five citing their living situation as a major barrier to education.
• Evaluation on housing effecting achievement

  Feminists might highlight how poor housing disproportionately affects women and children, particularly single mothers.

  argues that housing inequality is a reflection of broader gender inequalities, where women, especially from working-class backgrounds, are more likely to experience housing instability and poverty.

  The feminist perspective would focus on how these conditions restrict women's ability to support their children's education, thereby reinforcing gendered divisions of labor and power within the home and society.

  Additionally, feminists would critique how these educational barriers contribute to the reproduction of patriarchal structures, where disadvantaged girls face more barriers to educational success and future opportunities.
• How does diet and housing effect achievement

  Marilyn Howard (2001) notes that young people from poorer homes have lower intakes of energy,

  Poor nutrition affects health, for example by weakening the immune system and lowering children's energy levels.

  This may result in more absences from school due to illness, and difficulties concentrating in class.

  Children from poorer homes are also more likely to have emotional or behavioural problems.

  Wilkinson found among ten year olds, the lower the social class, the higher the rate of hyperactivity, anxiety and conduct disorders, all of which are likely to have a negative effect on the child's education.

  Blanden and Machin found that children from low income families were more likely to engage in

  'externalising behaviour (such as fighting and temper tantrums), which are likely to disrupt their schooling.
• Financial support and cost of education

  although education its self is free, children from poorer families may lack equipment due to being expensive. they may also miss out on educational trips and experiences due to the cost of them being a burden on poor parents.

  tanner et al said that the cost of uniform, books and other equipment needed is a financial burden on parents.

  Flaherty put forward the argument that poorer children are often fearful of being bullied in school due to lack of fashionable cloths or the correct equipment. he found that 20% of children entitled to free school meals do not use then.
• Fear of debt effects on education achievement

  The decision to apply to university is heavily influenced by students' attitudes toward debt and financial support. Working-class students, who are generally more debt-averse, are much less likely to apply to university compared to middle-class students.

  The increase in tuition fees in 2012, rising to £9,000 per year, worsened this issue, leading to an 8.6% decline in university applications.

  Moreover, working-class students who do attend university often receive less financial support from their families. A survey by the National Union of Students found that only 43% of students from the lowest social class received help, compared to 81% from the highest class.

  As a result, despite making up 50% of the population, only about 30% of university students come from working-class backgrounds.