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Teachers, social class and underachievement
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 09:43 authored by Mairead DunneMairead Dunne, Louise GazeleyLouise GazeleyAddressing the 'the social class attainment gap' in education has become a government priority in England. Despite multiple initiatives, however, little has effectively addressed the underachievement of working-class pupils within the classroom. In order to develop clearer understandings of working-class underachievement at this level, this small research study focused on local social processes by exploring how secondary school teachers identified and addressed underachievement in their classrooms. Our analysis shows how teachers' identifications of underachieving pupils overlapped with, and were informed by, their tacit understanding of pupils' social class position. While many teachers resisted the influence of social class, they used stereotypes to justify their practice and expectations, positioning pupils within educational and occupational hierarchies. This, we conclude, suggests the need for more systematic attention to the micro-social processes that provide the conditions through which working-class underachievement is produced.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
British Journal of Sociology of EducationISSN
0142-5692Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
5Volume
29Page range
451-463Pages
13.0Department affiliated with
- Education Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-02-06Usage metrics
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