Educational achievement and social class · GCSE Sociology

Class differences in achievement

Children from working-class backgrounds, on average, get lower results than middle-class children and are less likely to go to university.
Halsey, Heath and Ridge (1980) studied boys and found that those from the service (middle) class were far more likely to stay on and go to university than working-class boys.

A lack of money and resources: poor housing, less space to study, fewer books and computers, poor diet, and not being able to afford trips or tutoring.
Older students may need part-time jobs, reducing study time.

Cultural deprivation: the idea that some working-class families lack the norms, values and language that help at school. Critics say this blames families.
Cultural capital: the knowledge, attitudes and skills (such as confidence and familiarity with museums and books) that middle-class children gain at home and that schools reward.
Language: some sociologists argue middle-class children use a more elaborated language code, like that used at school.
Parental interest and involvement, and parents' own education, also affect achievement.

Material deprivation: A lack of money and resources.
Cultural deprivation: The idea that some families lack the norms and values that help at school.
Cultural capital: Knowledge, attitudes and skills that give an advantage at school.
Service class: Middle-class professional and managerial workers.
Social class: A group of people with a similar economic position.
Elaborated code: A detailed, formal way of speaking, like that used at school.