Does your average teacher notice class divisions amongst phpils?

[mids2019]

Just can from another thread where social class was being discussed and I was wondering if teachers were aware of class divides (or uniformity) within their school and does it impact their professional role?

My daughter is in a comprehensive with a mixed demographic and there seems to be a natural segregation between those that would consider themselves middle class and those who consider themselves working class. Is this often the case?

DD's school friends are a very diverse mix - except when it comes to parental education level and class. Then they're all from very similar backgrounds with university educated professional parents. No real difference between her state school friends and her private school friends either.

It was a bigger mix at primary, but secondary there was a very noticeable shift. Both were big school in London - 2 form entry in Primary and 15 form entry for secondary.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow 15 forms? I assume that’s private? 20 in a form?

I think @OhCrumbsWhereNow meant that the secondary takes in 15 forms of children, in other words15x 30ish in the year group.

Surely you’d know which one she was referring to if you’d asked her?

@Tanefan Thats 450 a year - over 3000 if 7 years on site. That’s massive!

Correct - 450 in each year group. One of the biggest schools in UK.
6th form is smaller but on same site.

Ok! Huge! Most people think 1500 is large.

teachers often live within the community they teach at, so depending on the school and size will be fully aware of the social circles in town.
if they are in a community long enough they will also spot and learn family ties.
kids in similar extra curriculars will often travel together and need similar times off site (swimming/gymnastics etc.).
but division along income levels usually stems from the parents discouraging or encouraging friendships outside of school.

From what I've seen, most children are far less aware of this than adults, especially young kids. I think lots of parents kind of manipulate friendships though. It's a shame when children are excluded because they're seen as 'not from the right sort of family'.

of coarse they do. It’s a daft question.

Makes me laugh when they say uniform is a leveler - it clearly isn’t.

They know who goes skiing every winter, who’s mum drives a big car, who got 3 X boxes for Christmas and who has the designer shoes and backpack.

They also know who is in free school meals and walks to school with no coat.

6th form saw some pupils in 30K birthday cars! Whilst DD spent £2K having worked all summer.

The children from “not the right sort of family” are another group. They are not alone and exclude the others who aren’t like them. It’s unlikely a traveller family will invite random dc round to play for example. They just prefer who they prefer. However it’s parents who organise playing and meet ups. They suss out suitable families. Other dc might get invited once to see what they are like, and then dropped.

Sounds like Radley. If it's 'posher than Marlborough ' they will be boarders so location doesn't matter.

The word 'disadvantaged' is applied to certain pupils in schools, and data sheets have indicators for things like pupil premium, alongside things special needs, additional languages or medical issues. It's information clearly shared with staff (but confidential) when a pupil is on free school meals or the family needs extra support.