topic 1- class differences in achievement

What is material deprivation in education?

Lack of financial resources to access basic necessities, e.g., adequate housing, food, heating, and educational resources, which can limit educational opportunities and achievement.

How can material deprivation affect educational achievement?

Poor housing → limited study space, higher stress

• Inadequate food → lower concentration and energy

• Lack of resources → fewer books, computers, or internet access

Name sociologists who studied material deprivation

Rutter (1979): material deprivation limits educational opportunities

• Tanner et al. (2003): school-related costs can affect participation

What is cultural deprivation?

Deficiencies in home/family background that limit educational achievement, e.g., inadequate socialisation, language skills, and attitudes/values.

Give examples of cultural deprivation affecting education.

Limited exposure to complex language and reasoning

• Less parental emphasis on ambition or self-discipline

• Parents less able to support homework or school norms

Which sociologists studied cultural deprivation?

Bernstein (1975): restricted speech codes in working-class families limit achievement

• Douglas (1964): working-class parents show lower educational support

What is cultural capital (Bourdieu)?

Skills, knowledge, values, and behaviours that give middle-class children an advantage in a middle-class-dominated education system.

Give examples of cultural capital in education.

Knowing how to interact with teachers

• Familiarity with literature, art, and ‘legitimate’ culture

• Middle-class leisure activities that develop analytical and language skills

Why does cultural capital give middle-class children an advantage?

Schools reflect middle-class values, so children with cultural capital are naturally “in tune” with curriculum expectations, giving them an inbuilt advantage over working-class peers.

What is cultural deprivation?

Deficiencies in home or family background that limit educational achievement, such as inadequate socialisation, language skills, or attitudes/values.

What did Bernstein say about cultural deprivation?

Differences in speech codes put working-class children at a disadvantage because the elaborated code used by teachers, textbooks, and exams is already familiar to middle-class pupils due to early socialisation.

What are the two types of speech codes according to Bernstein?

Restricted code: simpler language, often used in working-class families

• Elaborated code: complex, detailed language, valued in schools and middle-class culture

What did Douglas (1964) argue about parents’ education?

Working-class parents place less value on education, are less ambitious for their children, give less encouragement for educational activities (e.g., homework), and often do not attend parents’ evenings.

What did Sugarmann identify about working-class subcultures?

Four key attitudes act as barriers to achievement:

1. Fatalism – believing nothing can change your status

2. Collectivism – valuing the group over the individual

3. Immediate gratification – seeking pleasure now rather than sacrificing for future rewards

4. Present-time orientation – prioritising the present over long-term goals

How do Sugarmann’s subcultural attitudes affect education?

They reduce motivation to work hard or plan for the future, which can lead to lower educational achievement for working-class pupils.

What is material deprivation in education?

Lack of financial resources to access basic necessities, which can negatively affect educational achievement.

How can poor housing affect educational achievement?

Overcrowding: less space for homework/reading, disturbed sleep

• Frequent moves: temporary accommodation disrupts education

• Health risks: overcrowding increases accidents and illness → more school absence

How can diet and health affect educational achievement?

Poorer children have lower intakes of energy, vitamins, and minerals

• Poor nutrition weakens the immune system → more illness and school absence (Howard)

Why is material deprivation important in explaining working-class underachievement?

It creates both direct and indirect barriers to learning, such as disrupted education, lack of study space, illness, and low energy levels.

What is cultural capital (Bourdieu)?

The skills, knowledge, values, and behaviours that give middle-class children an advantage in a middle-class-dominated education system.

How does cultural capital give middle-class children an advantage in school?

They are better equipped to meet the demands of the school curriculum due to familiarity with language, knowledge, and values valued by schools.

How can parents convert cultural capital into economic capital?

By using their resources to send children to private schools, which reinforces educational advantage.