AQA A-Level Sociology: Internal School Relationships

The Hidden Curriculum

Refers to the things that you learn in school that are not explicitly taught. It links to the Marxist concept of the correspondence principle.

Example of Hidden Curriculum

Students are taught to value extrinsic rewards (exams) in school, so that in the workplace they are willing to stay at the job for money rather than the intrinsic value of the job.

Labelling Theory

Suggests that teachers judge pupils not by their ability or intelligence, but by characteristics such as appearance, gender, behaviour, class and ethnicity.

Looking Glass Self

Interactionists argue that individuals develop a self-concept or view of themselves based on how others react to them.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A process where labelling someone in a certain way causes them to live up to a label and fulfil the prophecy made about them.

Pygmalion in the Classroom Study

A field experiment where 20% of students were randomly selected and labelled as 'intellectual spurters,' leading to this group making higher than average progress.

IQ Tests

IQ tests are a poor way to measure ability.

Setting

Where individuals are placed into sets based on their ability and differ across subjects.

Streaming

Refers to splitting pupils into groups based on their ability, which they stay in across all their subjects.

Marketisation

The process that has made setting and streaming more of the norm in schools due to competition between and within schools.

Meritocracy

A system where parents, students, and teachers accept setting and streaming as a part of meritocracy.

Educational Triage

A concept by Gilbourn and Youdell related to how educational resources are allocated based on perceived ability.

Lower Teacher Expectations

Teachers may have lower expectations for students in lower sets or streams, leading to less challenging instruction and support.

Labelling

Being placed in a lower group can lead to students feeling labeled as 'less able,' which can negatively impact their self-esteem and motivation.

Reduced Access to Opportunities

Streaming can create a system where students in lower streams have limited access to advanced courses and opportunities, reinforcing existing inequalities.

Difficulty Removing Labels

Once placed in a particular group, it can be difficult for students to move to a higher group, even if their abilities improve.

The Ideal Pupil

Refers to the student profile teachers implicitly hold in their minds, representing their expectations of a model student.

Gillborn and Youdell Study

Studied 2 London secondary schools and found that working class pupils were more likely to be seen as disruptive, ill-prepared and demotivated, while middle class pupils were more likely to be seen as co-operative, well prepared and motivated.

Working Class = Lower Sets

Working class pupils are often placed in lower sets in schools.

Middle Class = Higher Sets

Middle class pupils are often placed in higher sets in schools.

Observation and Interviews

Give greater understanding - Verstehen. Increased Validity. Micro-scale study (2 schools) - not representative/generalizable.

Differentiation

Teachers positively or negatively label pupils.

Polarisation

Students react to their label. They adopt two opposite 'poles' or extremes.

Pro-school Subculture

Conform to the norms and values associated with the ideal pupil.

Anti-school Subculture

Rebel against the norms and values associated with the ideal pupil.

Pupil Subculture

A group of pupils that share similar norms, values and patterns of behaviour.

Lacey's Argument

Argues that pupil subcultures develop through differentiation and polarisation.

Pro-school Subcultures

Gain status in academic success.

Anti-school Subcultures

Must find alternative means to gain status.

African-Caribbean Male Subcultures

An example of a subculture studied by Sewell.

Black Female Subculture

An example of a subculture studied by Fuller.

White Female Subculture

An example of a subculture studied by Ringrose.

White, Male, Working-Class Subculture

An example of a subculture studied by Willis.

Mac an Ghaill's Findings

Found that there are different types of working-class male subcultures (Academic achievers, macho lads, new enterprisers and real Englishmen).