Social Class differences in education

• What are the two main factors affecting social class differences in education?

  Home (external factors) and school (internal factors)
• Why do working class pupils tend to underachieve?

  Due to external factors related to their home environment
• Why do middle class pupils tend to overachieve?

  Due to internal factors related to their school environment
• What are the home factors that affect education?

  • Material factors
  • Cultural background
  • Parental support
  • Cultural capital
• What did Douglas (1964) examine in his study "The Home and the School"?

  The impacts of material and cultural deprivation on children from deprived backgrounds
• What cumulative effects of poverty on education did Douglas find?

  Poor housing, lack of access to resources, lack of space to study, disturbed sleep patterns, ill health, and providing childcare for young siblings
• What are the hidden costs of school according to Bull?

  • Equipment
  • School trips
  • Correct uniform
  • Travel to better schools
• What correlation did Wilkinson find in his research?

  A correlation between levels of deprivation and learning difficulties such as ADHD and mental health issues
• What measures did the Conservatives implement from 1979 to 1997 to tackle working-class underachievement?

  • Vocational qualifications
  • Education Reform Act for school choice
  • Formula funding
• What initiatives did New Labour introduce from 1997 to 2010?

  • Education Maintenance Allowance
  • Sure Start
  • City Centre Academies
  • Education Action Zones
  • Broader range of qualifications
• What policies did the Conservatives implement from 2010 to the present to support education?

  • Universal Free School Meals to year 2
  • Pupil Premium
  • Provided laptops during lockdown