Streaming and Its Effects
This page examines how streaming, the practice of sorting students into ability groups, interacts with labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy to reinforce class differences in educational achievement sociology.
Streaming makes the self-fulfilling prophecy more likely to occur, as it institutionalizes teacher expectations about student ability. Working-class students, often not seen as "ideal pupils," are more likely to be placed in lower streams, limiting their opportunities for academic success.
Vocabulary: Streaming - The practice of sorting children into groups ('streams') based on their perceived ability, so they can be taught separately.
Gillborn & Youdell's 2001 study of two high schools revealed how teacher stereotypes about ability influenced streaming decisions, with working-class and black students more likely to be placed in lower streams and entered for foundation papers, denying them access to higher-level knowledge and opportunities.
Highlight: The researchers linked streaming practices to the pressure schools face to perform well in exam league tables, introducing the concept of the "A-to-C economy."
Definition: Educational triage - The process of sorting pupils into those who will pass anyway, borderline cases who receive the most resources, and "hopeless cases" who are expected to fail regardless of intervention.
This triage process, driven by school performance metrics, often results in working-class and minority students being labelled as "hopeless cases" and placed in lower streams, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of underachievement.
Evaluation: While Gillborn & Youdell's work provides valuable insights into how streaming and labelling perpetuate class-based achievement gaps, it's important to note that students are not passive recipients of these labels and may resist or overcome negative expectations in some cases.
