Setting, Streaming and Banding

Question 1

What are setting, streaming and banding

Answer 1

• setting refers to students being placed based upon their ability in a subject
• streaming refers to placing students into a stream of subjects all at the same level based upon ability
• banding refers to the process of having more than one class for a subject

Question 2

Who does setting and streaming effect

Answer 2

• W/C students more likely to be placed in lower sets
• Middle-class students more likely to be placed into higher sets
• Variations based on ethnic background - Chinese and Indian in higher sets, African-Caribbean and white working class in lower sets

Question 3

How do setting and streaming influence achievement - lower sets - Keddie

Answer 3

• less challenging work
• entered into lower tier exams
• cooled down
• dumbed down resources

Question 4

How do setting and streaming influence achievement - higher sets - Keddie

Answer 4

• challenging work - extension activities
• positive reinforcement -higher tier exams
• warmed up

Question 5

Further impact of setting and streaming

Answer 5

• Lacey - Hightown Grammar
• Differentiation
• Polarisation
• Formation of pro and anti-school subculture

Question 6

Contemporary applications

Answer 6

• setting and streaming persist in education, particularly in English and maths
• Marketisation of education leads to students being streamed into achievable qualifications
• Rise of BTEC qualifications replacing GCSE and A levels

Question 7

Evaluations

Answer 7

• Ball - removal of setting and streaming lessened anti-school subcultures
• Boaler - lower sets ‘psychological prisons’
• mixed ability grouped perform better than setting
• Education cuts - lower sets more likely to be impacted
  lower class in low sets due to low ability - attainment stats