ERIC Number: EJ1139928
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0267-1522
EISSN: N/A
Stratifying Science: A Bourdieusian Analysis of Student Views and Experiences of School Selective Practices in Relation to "Triple Science" at KS4 in England
Archer, Louise; Moote, Julie; Francis, Becky; DeWitt, Jennifer; Yeomans, Lucy
Research Papers in Education, v32 n3 p296-315 2017
Currently, science in England is distinctive at General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in comparison to most other subjects, in that there is a notable stratification of award routes. The most prestigious of these, "Triple Science" (the route for entry for three separate science GCSEs), is championed by English government and industry, but has received scant critical academic attention to date. Drawing on data collected via a national survey of over 13,000 Year 11 students aged 15/16 years and in-depth longitudinal interviews conducted with 70 students from this cohort (from age 10 to 16), we discuss how most students have little if any choice over which science "option" they take at GCSE. Drawing on Bourdieu's concept of pedagogic action, we unpick how students are "channelled" into making the "right" choices and come to accept their allocation as legitimate. We explore how selective practices around Triple Science create and perpetuate social inequalities, producing different patterns of student identity, aspiration and attainment. In particular, we discuss the identification of Triple Science as "for the clever" and problematise its relationship with the science "pipeline." We conclude by suggesting potentially more equitable ways forward for science education, reflecting on implications for post-16 participation.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Science Instruction, Secondary School Science, Secondary School Students, Interviews, Longitudinal Studies, Course Selection (Students), Graduation Requirements, High Achievement, Student Attitudes, Online Surveys, Academic Aspiration, Occupational Aspiration, Student Surveys, Cultural Capital, Influences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A