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The limits of social class in explaining ethnic gaps in educational attainment

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Strand, Steve. (2011) The limits of social class in explaining ethnic gaps in educational attainment. British Educational Research Journal, Vol.37 (No.2). pp. 197-229. ISSN 0141-1926

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01411920903540664

Abstract

This paper reports an analysis of the educational attainment and progress between age 11 and age 14 of over 14,500 students from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE). The mean attainment gap in national tests at age 14 between White British and several ethnic minority groups were large, more than three times the size of the gender gap, but at the same time only about one-third of the size of the social class gap. Socio-economic variables could account for the attainment gaps for Black African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi students, but not for Black Caribbean students. Further controls for parental and student attitudes, expectations and behaviours indicated minority ethnic groups were on average more advantaged on these measures than White British students, but this was not reflected proportionately in their levels of attainment. Black Caribbean students were distinctive as the only group making less progress than White British students between age 11 and 14 and this could not be accounted for by any of the measured contextual variables. Possible explanations for the White British-Black Caribbean gap are considered.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races L Education > L Education (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Academic achievement -- Great Britain, Education, Secondary -- Great Britain, Education -- Demographic aspects -- Great Britain, Education -- Economic aspects -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	British Educational Research Journal
Publisher:	Routledge
ISSN:	0141-1926
Date:	March 2011
Volume:	Vol.37
Number:	No.2
Page Range:	pp. 197-229
Identification Number:	10.1080/01411920903540664
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/2363