Factors Affecting Achievement

Question 1

In school factors of achievement

Answer 1

• Setting and Streaming:

Setting = Pupils are in different sets for different subjects
Streaming = In the same ability set for all subjects
Improves achievement - pupils in higher sets could be challenged .
Could decrease achievement in lower sets.

• Mixed ability teaching

The opposite to setting/streaming where all abilities are taught together.
Improves achievement - higher ability could help lower ability but could mean they are not ‘challenged’ or are held back.

• Teacher expectations/labelling

Teachers could label pupils because of stereotypes which could lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Improves achievement - if pupils accept positive label, could decrease achievement - if pupils accept negative label.

Question 2

Out of school factors:

Answer 2

• Parental values:

1) Parents may value education and see it as improvement so encourage their child to work hard, get them a tutor etc..
2) Parents may not value education and don’t see it as important so don’t encourage their children

• Cultural deprivation:

Children may not learn the correct norms and values to succeed in education (could affect working class children)

• Material deprivation:

Parents may ‘lack money’ so cannot afford resources for their child to succeed (e.g. revision books, a computer) or many not have a quiet place for them to study.

Question 3

Subculture / peer groups:

Answer 3

Pupils may join subcultures who have their own set of norms and values.
Improves achievement - joining ‘pro-school’ subcultures which value education, working hard (more likely with females) could decrease achievement if joins ‘anti-culture’ school subcultures who don’t value education (more likely with males)