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Ability Grouping

In: Students' Experiences and Perspectives on Secondary Education

Author

Listed:
  • Emer Smyth

    (Economic and Social Research Institute, Social Research Division)

Abstract

Unlike in countries such as Germany, there is no distinct tracking between academic and vocational programmes in Irish secondary schools. However, some schools, especially those serving more disadvantaged populations, use streaming, allocating students to their base classes according to prior ability. Smyth shows that the labelling of the class groups, the allocation to ordinary or foundation subject levels and the expectations of teachers and students combine to provide very different learning experiences for lower stream groups. Lower stream classes are characterised by a slow pace of instruction, with students drifting or even disengaging as they move through lower secondary education. Within these groups, a negative dynamic of teacher reprimand and student misbehaviour emerges, culminating in early school leaving and academic underperformance for many students. Given the socio-economic profile of schools using streaming, ability grouping is found to play a key role in the reproduction of socio-economic inequality within Irish schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Emer Smyth, 2016. "Ability Grouping," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Students' Experiences and Perspectives on Secondary Education, chapter 0, pages 145-166, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-49385-9_6
    DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-49385-9_6
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