Ethnicity

• Ethnic differences

  • There are wide differences between ethnic groups and educational achievement.
  • The highest-achieving minority ethnic group at GCSE level are Chinese and Indian Asian pupils.
  • The lowest-achieving minority groups at GCSE level are Black Caribbean, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Roma and Traveller-of-Irish-Heritage pupils.
• • External factors include:
  • Social class differences and racism.
  • Internal factors include:
  • Language differences, teacher expectation, anti-school sub-cultures and ethnocentrism.
• External factors (outside the school)

  • Minority ethnic groups are twice as likely to live in poverty as White British, so all the factors related to social class and achievement apply.
  • Racism in society may mean that minority ethnic groups face higher risks of material disadvantage at school while also leading to lower levels of self-esteem among young people, influencing their motivation and behaviour.
• Internal factors (inside the school)

  • Language differences may cause difficulties with schoolwork and communicating with teachers even though this only applies to a minority of pupils.
  • Nevertheless, teachers might assume that problems with communication is linked to academic ability.
• Racist stereotypes

  • Racism amongst pupils can result in race-related bullying and name-calling, lowering levels of self-esteem.
  • Evidence indicates that some teachers might hold negative racist stereotypes of some minority groups (e.g. Gillborn and Youdell, 1999), resulting in some pupils being ignored or labelled as disruptive.
• Subcultures

  • Minority ethnic group pupils who are subjected to racism, racial stereotypes or labelling at school may form anti-school sub-cultures.
• Ethnocentric curriculums

  • School organisation and curriculum may be ethnocentric, adhering to white middle-class culture, resulting in other cultures becoming marginalised.