1. Write your best sociological definition, using the following key words:
Norms
Culture
Values
Mainstream
Extension: What Sociological study have we looked at that focus’ on a subculture called ‘The Lads’?

2. The BIG Idea
Pupil Subcultures
We are Learning to...
Discover what a pupil subculture is and examine the different types identified by sociologists.
Outline studies which investigate subcultures within school.
Relationships and processes within schools, with particular reference to teacher/pupil relationships, pupil identities and subcultures, the hidden curriculum, and the organisation of teaching and learning
In today’s lesson...
GOOD learning …
Be able to identify possible impacts that pupil subcultures have on the educational achievement, including one or more example of different types of pupil subculture, and make brief reference to one sociological study.
GREAT learning …
Be able to discuss the possible impacts that pupil subcultures have on the educational achievement of pupils, including more than one example of different types of pupil subculture, and make clear reference to one sociological study.
EVEN BETTER …
Be able to discuss and evaluate the possible impacts that pupil subcultures have on the educational achievement of pupils, including more than one example of different types of pupil subculture, and make clear reference to more than one sociological study.
Wordle 2

3. Pupil Subcultures
A group of pupils who share similar values and behaviour patterns. They often emerge as a response to labelling and streaming.
So what subcultures do we have in our school?
Extension – how might they impact on educational achievement?

4. Pupil Subcultures – Some Examples
Consider the following:
What will their attitude towards school be?
How well are they likely to do in school?
How would they behave in school?

5. Possible Effects of Pupil Subcultures Within School
Creates
Inequalities
Class differences
Achievement differences
Self fulfilling prophecy
Get them to discuss an example for each in their groups, using the groups around the room.

6. Research Method: Participant & Non-participant observation.
Colin Lacey (1970)
Research Method: Participant & Non-participant observation.
DIFFERENTIATION
“ Process by which teachers categorise pupils according to how they perceive their ability, attitude and/or behaviour”
How?
Setting/streaming
Most able = high status = top set
Least able = inferior status = bottom set

7. Colin Lacey (1970) POLARISATION
“ pupils respond to streaming by moving towards one of two opposite poles or extremes”
Hightown boys grammar school study- streaming polarised boys into pro-school and anti-school subcultures.

8. Pro-school Subculture
High streamed
Middle class
High status- successful
Committed to values of the school

9. Anti-social / Anti-School Subculture
Low streams
Working class
Failure= low self esteem - school has undermined them, reinforcing inferior status

10. A Motto for Rossett
You have 2 minutes to come up with a motto which you think depicts a pro-social and an anti-social school subcultural attitude to Rossett School.

11. How else would being ‘labelled’ and ‘streamed’ make you respond?
How might you react to your status?

12. Peter Woods (1981)
Division between pro and anti-school subculture is simplistic.
Variety of pupil responses to the culture of the school....
Integration: follows schools norms and values, “teachers pet”
Ritualism: going through the motions and staying out of trouble
Retreatism: daydreaming and mucking about
Rebellion: Outright rejection of school
Furlong (1984)- “not committed to one response, act differently to different teachers and subjects!”

13. David Hargreaves (1967) Interviewed boys in secondary modern schools
Subculture formed due to triple failures=
Failing 11+
Low streams
Labelled worthless louts
Found high status went to those who flouted the school rules!

14. Evaluation Questions
Do all pupils who are part of these subcultures fail?
No, to say that this would be deterministic!
What about people who are part of positive subculture who still fail? IQ?
Would Marxists agree with subcultural analysis of educational underachievement?
Ignore wider structures of power within which labelling takes place.
Not based on teachers individual prejudices but system of class division.

15. http://www. youtube. com/watch

16. So...Should We Abolish Streaming?
If streaming results in such polarisation of pupils, which result in pupil subcultures. Should we abandon it and teach all mixed ability classes?
Would this be a fairer system?

17. SELECTION = ONLY TAKE BEST STUDENTS, TWO TIER SCHOOL SYSTEM
OTHER REASONS for WORKING CLASS UNDERACHIEVEMENT – POLICIES & MARKETISATION
SELECTION = ONLY TAKE BEST STUDENTS, TWO TIER SCHOOL SYSTEM

18. A-C economy (Gillborn and Youdell)
Schools are forced to focus on pupils who will achieve 5 grades at A to C.
Gillborn & Youdell blame system.
Sorting process is named after the medical procedures which need to be taken in an emergency:
The Educational Triage System
Pupils
Triage
Those who will
pass anyway
Borderline C/D pupils-
Need extra help
Hopeless cases
(Webb, R. etc, 2008)

19. The BIG Idea
Pupil Subcultures
We are Learning to...
Discover what a pupil subculture is and examine the different types identified by sociologists.
Outline studies which investigate subcultures within school.
In today’s lesson...
GOOD learning …
Be able to identify possible impacts that pupil subcultures have on the educational achievement, including one or more example of different types of pupil subculture, and make brief reference to one sociological study.
GREAT learning …
Be able to discuss the possible impacts that pupil subcultures have on the educational achievement of pupils, including more than one example of different types of pupil subculture, and make clear reference to one sociological study.
EVEN BETTER …
Be able to discuss and evaluate the possible impacts that pupil subcultures have on the educational achievement of pupils, including more than one example of different types of pupil subculture, and make clear reference to more than one sociological study.
Wordle 19