Does Social class and Gender affect attainment in schools?

[Emily19]

Hello,
I am currently studying on an access to Teacher Training course. I intend to research "How social class and gender affect attainment in schools, which has the greater influence. Any Information given is completely confidential, if you require a copy of any work I have used, I will be more than happy to supply you with a copy.

What are your views on Social class affecting attainment in schools?

What are your views on Gender affecting attainment in schools?

Which do you think has the greater influence?

Many Thanks

[princessparty]

I think parental (particularly primary caregiver's) educational attainment is much more critical than social class.Boys tend to be more spread across the whole ability spectrum whereas girls are more clustered in middle.The very high achievers and the very low achievers will usually be boys.

[Sassyfrassy]

There is plenty of research showing attainment in schools in deprived areas and comparing with schools in more affluent areas.

As a teacher in very deprived area I think it does make a difference. I see many children with no aspirations, they see no need for education and neither do their parents. We get children starting in reception who havent heard a fairy tale or nursery rhyme in their life. They have so so much catching up to do.

However, children in deprived areas whose parents are keen on education still do really well. Parental influence make a huge huge difference. Personally I wouldnt want to go back to teaching in more affluent areas, I like a challenge =)

[Abuelita]

You might want to look at the document produced by the OECD after the PISA results came out in December. It's called "Viewing the UK education system through the prism of PISA" and has something to say about disadvantaged pupils.

www.pisa.oecd.org/dataoecd/33/8/46624007.pdf