Ethnic differences in achievement:

Among all groups except for roman gypsies girl do better than boys, similarly
within each group the middle class do better than working class children. White
pupils achievement is very close to the national average not surprisingly, since
whites are by far the largest group. However, we look closely at their
performance we find major class differences in their performance, with many
working class pupils performing at a lower level than that of other ethnic
differences.
External factors- factors outside of the education system eg influence of home
and family background
Internal factors- factors within schools eg interactions between pupils and
students.
EXTERNAL FACTORS: CULTURAL DEPRIVATION
Intellectual and linguistic skills:
Cultural deprivation theorists argue that lack of intellectual and linguistic skills
are a major cause for underachievement for minority children. They argue that
many children from low income black families lack intellectual stimulation and
enriching experiences. This leaves them poorly equipped for school.
Bereiter and Engelmann consider the language spoken by African Americans as
inadequate to educational success. They see it as ungrammatical, disjointed and
incapable of expressing abstract ideas. Gordon Bowker identifies their lack of
standard English as major barrier to progress in education.
Theres been concern that children who dont speak English at home may be
held back educationally, but Indian pupil did well despite not speaking English at
home.
Attitudes and Values:
Cultural deprivists see lack of motivation as major cause of failure of many black
children many black kids are socialised into a subculture that instils a fatalistic
live for today attitude that doesnt value education.
Cultural deprivation theorists argue that the failure to socialise children
adequately is the result of dysfunctional family structures. Mot black families are
headed by a lone mother so their children are deprived of adequate care
because she has to struggle in the absence of male breadwinner. Also the
absence of a father means that boys lack an adequate role model of male
achievement. Roger also sees the low achievement of some ethnic minorities as
a result from a failure to embrace mainstream British culture.
Ken oryce sees family structure as contributing to low achievement in African
and carribean families. From comparison of Asian and black students he claims
that Asians are high achievers because their culture is more resistant to racism
and gives them a greater sense of self worth. By contrast he argues that black
and Caribbean culture is less contrast and less cohesive to racism. As a resut
black pupils have a low self-esteem and under achieve. Pryce argues that the
experience of slavery was culturally devastating for black people, being

transported and sold into slavery means that they lot their language, religion and
entire family system.