Material deprivation

/

What evidence links poverty to underachievement?

• Department for Education (2012):

  • only ~1/3 of FSM pupils achieve 5 good GCSEs

  • compared to ~2/3 of others

• Poor pupils are more likely to:

  • truant or be excluded

  • leave school with no qualifications

• ~90% of failing schools are in deprived areas

How does poor housing directly affect achievement?

• Overcrowding:

  • no quiet place to study

  • disturbed sleep

• Lack of space:

  • limits homework and learning activities

• Temporary housing:

  • frequent moves → disrupted schooling

→ Leads to lower attainment.

How does poor housing indirectly affect education?

• Damp/cold housing → ill health

• overcrowding → higher accident risk

• temporary housing → stress and instability

These cause:

• absences from school

• reduced concentration and performance

How does poverty affect behaviour according to Wilkinson and Bladen & Machin? ?

• Wilkinson (1996):

  • poorer children more likely to have:

    • hyperactivity

    • anxiety

    • behavioural issues

• Blanden and Machin (2007):

  • more externalising behaviour (e.g. fighting)

These disrupt:

• learning

• teacher relationships

• overall achievement

What are the “costs of free schooling”?

Ball argues education isn’t truly free.

Costs include:

• uniforms

• transport

• books and equipment

• trips and activities

Poor families may struggle to afford these → disadvantage.

What is the evaluation of material deprivation?

Strengths:

• strong statistical evidence

• clearly shows impact of poverty

Weaknesses:

• doesn’t explain why some poor pupils succeed

• ignores cultural and in-school factors