What are the effects of ethnicity on educational attainment? Does your cultural background impact on your attainment in education?

Sociological Targets You will understand that ethnicity is a variable affecting educational attainment. Some minority ethnic groups achieve significantly better than the average group. Other ethnic groups appear to be disadvantaged by education systems in UK

Personal targets To understand the importance of official statistics. To interpret official statistics To work with others in class

Discuss the meaning of…… Ethnicity Hidden Curriculum Racism Prejudice Discrimination Ethnocentric Institutional racism Material deprivation Cultural deprivation

Defining ethnicity Ethnicity - belonging to a group that shares the same characteristics, such as country of origin, language, religion, ancestry and culture. Ethnicity may be defined by biology and history and is not necessarily changed by the culture in which a person grows up.

Amir Khan, British boxer What is his ethnicity? Discuss this point with your study partner.

There is a clear statistical link between ethnicity and educational attainment

Attainment of 5 GCSEs A-C

Questions Which groups do better than the average white British ethnic group? Which groups do worse than the average white British ethnic group? At least 80% of students are white British. How might this affect the patterns?

If you apply Halsey’s notion of Equality of Outcome, what should these figures look like? Ethnicity %18-24 in higher education %18-24 in Great Britain White 85.2 92 Indian 4.7 2 Pakistani 2.7 1.8 Bangladeshi 0.7 Chinese 1.0 0.4 Asian Other 1.2 Africans 1.4 0.6 Caribbeans 0.9 Black Other 0.5

Government data The rate of permanent exclusions of black pupils (pupils reported to be in the Black Caribbean, Black African and Black Other ethnic groups) in all secondary schools is 1.1 per cent compared to 0.3 per cent for all other pupils. GCSE AND EQUIVALENT ATTAINMENT BY PUPIL CHARACTERISTICS IN ENGLAND, 2012/13 Department for Children, Schools and Families

Explanations for the patterns Different ethnic groups have different levels of intelligence (Jenson, James Watson) Ethnic minorities experience racism in school and society (DFeS) Ethnic minorities have a different culture that advantages or disadvantages them (Sewell)

AO3 practice Try to think of at least one possible argument that supports and one argument that rejects each of the suggested explanations for the under attainment of minority ethnic groups in British schools. Which explanation do you find most satisfactory? What evidence can you offer?

Steve Strand - research Most ethnic minority groups have higher parental and pupil educational aspirations, more positive attitudes to school, do more homework but do not get the same rewards as White British pupils for this extra effort.

Important Research Study Modood (2004) Investigated success of some ethnic minority groups Used Official statistics from Dfes. Found some ethnic minorities do well because of ‘cultural capital’ in previous countries families were well to do and influential. Evaluation ?? How does this compare to what Sewell found?

Plenary Outline and explain patterns of attainment by ethnicity (15). Summarise the patterns of educational attainment and ethnicity you have learned today. Point (example) Evidence shows that some ethnic minority children are treated differently because of institutional racism in schools

Independent study Plan out an essay on: Outline and explain the relationship between ethnicity and educational attainment. What AO1/2 points would you make? What AO3 points would you make?

If you have suggestions for improvement, see your teacher The end If you have suggestions for improvement, see your teacher