AQA A level Sociology – Education Questions & Correct Answers/ Graded A+

Class and educational achievement - Elaborated code (Bernstein) : Idea that middle-class speakers use context-free, complex forms of language. used by teachers, textbooks, and exams. So the education system is made more difficult for the working class. Class and educational achievement - Restricted code (Bernstein) : Speech code used by working class - has limited vocabulary, grammatically simple sentences Class and educational achievement - Parents education - working class (Douglas) : Working class parents place less value on education and encourage their children less to complete homework and participate in educational activities. They are also less likely to attend parents evening and discuss their children's educational achievement. Class and educational achievement - Parents education - Middle class (Feinstein) : Parents can educate their children in 4 ways: Parenting style - most likely to be educated so they encourage active learning. Parental educational behaviours - parents are more aware of what their child needs to succeed, so behaviours such as: reading to children, poems and nursery rhymes, and helping with homework are encouraged. 2 Use of income - middle class mothers are more likely to buy educational toys that stimulate intellectual development while working class homes lack this. Parental education - better educated parents tend to raise better educated children. Class and educational achievement - Working class subculture (Sugarman) : The working class have 4 traits: Fatalism - a belief in fate, "whatever will be, will be" and there is nothing you can do to change your status. Collectivism - valuing being part of a group more than individual success. immediate gratification - seeking pleasure now that making sacrifices and waiting to get a better reward in the future. Present time orientation - seeing the present as more important than the future. Class and educational achievement - compensatory education programmes : Operation Head Start (USA), Sure Start (UK) - programs that aim to help solve cultural deprivation by providing schools in lower income areas with resources to help children succeed. Class and educational achievement - Material deprivation - housing : Overcrowding or damp rooms mean pupils have nowhere quiet to do homework and poor attendance due to illness 3 Class and educational achievement - Material deprivation - diet and health (Howard) : Pupils from lower income homes have lower intakes of energy, vitamins, and minerals. This may weaken the immune system and lead to illness and absence from school Class and educational achievement - Material deprivation - cost of education (Tanner et al) : The cost of items such as: Transport, uniforms, books, computers, calculators, and other equipment place a heavy burden of poor families. they may have to use hand-me-downs and cheaper equipment which may lead to isolation and bullying by peers. Class and educational achievement - Material deprivation - Fear of debt (callender and jackson) : Working class children saw debt more negatively than middle class children, they see more costs than benefits in going to university. (5 times less likely to apply than MC pupils). University costs being raised to £9,000 per year in 2012 saw an 8.6% decrease in applications than previous years. Class and educational achievement - Cultural Capital (Bourdieu) : The knowledge, attitudes, values, language and tastes and abilities that the middle class transmit to their children. Bourdieu argues that educational success is largely down to cultural capital - middle class children have an advantage where these traits are highly valued in education. Class and educational achievement - Education and economic