Assess the View That Factors and Processes Within the School Are the Main Cause of Differences in Educational Achievement of Different Social Groups.

A social group is a collection of people who interact with each other and share similar characteristics and a sense of unity.
Internationalists approach believes that the difference in educational achievement is based on the labelling theory. In particular, teacher-pupil relationship. Labelling theory suggests that teacher’s judge pupils based on their characteristics that relate to class, gender and ethnicity rather than their intelligence or ability. The label placed on an individual can have an effect on their performance as it leads to self-fulfilling prophecy (SFP) whereby they act upon the label.
Gillborn found that afro-Caribbean pupils were more likely to be given detention than any other pupils as the teachers misinterpreted the dress and manner of speech as representing a challenge to their authority. In perceiving their treatment to be unfair, the pupils responded in accordance to their labels. (SFP)
This is also supported by Rosenthal and Jacobsen’s study whereby two researchers reported pupils ‘results’ in intelligence tests to their teacher. The names of the ‘high flyers’ were in fact picked at random and bore no relation to any test results. However, the pupils’ real performance by the end of the school year communicated to their ‘fake’ test success.
It was found that teachers also perceived such pupils as happier, better adjusted and more interesting than the rest. Those pupils who were not named as high flyers but improved in performance against their expectation were described as showing ‘undesirable’ behaviour.
Streaming (splitting pupils into several different hierarchy groups which would stay together for all lessons) and setting (putting pupils of similar ability together for certain lessons) also has an effect on achievement of an individuals. Ball found that teachers had higher expectations of those children in the top sets or streams and so they ‘pushed’ these children more. In contrast Ball found those children placed in the lower bands or streams were taught with lower expectations such as with a focus on vocational qualifications.
This was supported by Keddie who found that “There is a direct relationship between a person’s social-class and where they are streamed” as he found that teachers taught pupils in higher-streamed classes with far greater expectations than those in lower streams; to the extent that lower streamed pupils were not given the depth of knowledge needed to achieve at a higher level even if they wanted to.
The language used in schools also has an impact on the achievement of pupils. According to Bernstein, there are two types of speech pattern. Elaborate and restrictive code. The elaborate code is a way of talking which is explicit and does not assume that the listener shares the same assumptions and understandings as the speaker. Whereas the restrictive code is shorthand speech usually spoke by individuals who have a lot in common and usually lacks detail.
Middle class children are usually socialized in both restrictive and elaborate code therefore have an advantage when it comes to education as the education system is mostly controlled by the middle-class people therefore are able to understand the format of the questions in the exams as well as understand what the teachers are teaching. Whereas working class pupils are disadvantaged as they only know the restrictive code therefore are less likely to understand what the teachers say and are afraid to ask for help from the teachers as they could be afraid to be criticized for what they say.
However, some people would argue against this as they believe that achievement of an individual is based on material deprivation. This refers to the inability for individuals or households to afford consumption goods and activities that are typical in a society at a given point in time. Particularly money. For example, middle class parents are able to provide their children with the necessary resources needed for education such as private tuition, computers, revision books and toys that stimulate learning from an early age etc. whereas working class parents would not be able to afford them therefore their children are at a disadvantage.
There is inconclusive evidence to support the internationalist theory as they could be other factors affecting the achievement of individuals. For example, some individuals from any social class could be born with disorders that affect their educational achievement. Whereas some people are just naturally skilled to do certain tasks therefore just achieve the bare minimum in order to get a job or do vocational courses.