Why do some groups do better than others in education?
The factors affecting educational attainment: how social class, gender and ethnicity are linked to differences in achievement, and the home and school explanations for these patterns.
A focused answer on factors affecting attainment for WJEC GCSE Sociology: how social class, gender and ethnicity link to achievement, and the home (material and cultural) and in-school explanations.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers the factors affecting educational attainment: why some groups do better than others. You need to explain how social class, gender and ethnicity are linked to differences in achievement, and give the two main kinds of explanation: home factors (material deprivation and cultural factors) and in-school factors (such as setting and labelling). Present the patterns and explanations even-handedly, as tendencies that sociologists study, not as judgements about individuals.
The patterns: class, gender and ethnicity
Home factors: material and cultural
In-school factors
Putting it together
Try this
Q1. Identify two home factors that can affect attainment. [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Any two of: material deprivation (no quiet study space, fewer books and computers, pressure to work) and cultural factors (differences in support, language and expectations between homes).
Q2. Explain one in-school factor that can affect attainment. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Labelling is one in-school factor: teachers' judgements of pupils can affect how those pupils are treated and how they see themselves, which can raise or lower their achievement over time.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC (Component 1)4 marksDescribe two ways home background can affect educational attainment.Show worked answer →
A describe question (AO1). Reward two distinct, developed factors.
Material factors. Poverty can mean no quiet space to study, fewer books and computers, and pressure to work part-time, which can lower achievement.
Cultural factors. Some homes give more support for education, such as reading with children and high expectations, which can raise achievement.
Top band. Two clearly different home factors, each developed with how it affects attainment.
WJEC (Component 1)8 marksExplain why social class affects educational achievement.Show worked answer →
An explain question (AO1 and AO2). Reward home and school factors, developed.
Material deprivation. Poorer families may lack a quiet study space, books and computers, and money for trips and resources, which lowers achievement.
Cultural factors. Differences in support for education and in language and expectations between homes can advantage middle-class children.
In-school factors. Working-class pupils may be more likely to be placed in lower sets or labelled negatively.
Top band. Several explained factors, both home and school, showing why class is linked to achievement.
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Sociology (Wales) specification (C200QS) — WJEC (2017)