illustration for the drivers of inequality

Driver Category 3.3

Harmful education institution norms and practices that prevent equal access and achievement in education

Certain teaching practices have become embedded in schools despite research evidence that they are harmful to education equality. Streaming and setting is still commonplace in schools and can be a factor behind divergent education pathways and education inequalities. Also some practices such as legacy places being awarded at prestigious universities are harmful to social mobility.

Guiding Questions

General questions

  • What age does any streaming between academic and vocational tracks take place within secondary schools?
  • Is there evidence that children from more advantaged family backgrounds are more likely to take the academic track?
  • Is it possible for children to move between the tracks?
  • How widespread is setting within subjects based on achievement used within secondary schools?
  • What is the relationship between children's position within any sets and family background?
  • How likely is it for a child to move up a set?
  • Is this more likely following intervention by a parent?
  • Are parents from more advantaged families more likely to intervene?
  • What teacher training is available to help teachers understand how setting can be harmful to social mobility?
  • What teacher training is available on all class (mixed ability) teaching?
  • Do prestigious universities offer legacy places linked to donations?
  • Do these universities also offer grants and bursaries to students from less advantaged family backgrounds to help widen participation?

Indicators

Potential indicators to monitor the drivers of inequalities in this main driver category

  • % of primary school pupils allocated to sets based on an assessment of ability for core subjects, and share of these pupils who have moved sets in last year
  • % of secondary school pupils allocated to sets based on an assessment of ability for core subjects, and share of these pupils who have moved sets in last year
  • % of primary and secondary school pupils in selective schools by gender
  • % of private schools offering legacy places
  • % of universities offering legacy places

Candidate Policies

To see related Candidate Policies in this main driver category please click here.