Educational inequalities

The first presents the main findings of a Nuffield Foundation funded project about the influence of social background on the educational choices of adolescents in England. It draws on theoretical perspectives from sociology and behavioural economics to identify and test a number of mechanisms as relevant pathways of the effect of social background on the choice of EBacc GCSE subjects and A-levels. It finds that this effect mainly runs through the perception of succeeding in education and secondary school peers.

• Speakers: Nicola Pensiero, Jan Germen Janmaat and Carlo Barone

The second presentation focuses on Within-School Achievement Sorting in Comprehensive and Tracked Systems. It explores to what extent comprehensive systems reduce achievement sorting at the level of (a) schools, (b) classrooms, and (c) friendships. It finds that between-school variance in achievement is lower in comprehensive systems but that this is counterbalanced by greater sorting within schools, between classrooms, and, especially, in friendship networks in such systems. Overall, however, comprehensive systems create more equal environments.

• Speaker: Per Engzell

This event will be particularly useful for anyone interested in social inequalities in education.

Please note this is a hybrid event and can be joined either in-person or online. To join online, please email Jan Germen Janmaat g.janmaat@ucl.ac.uk.

Related links

• Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies (LLAKES)
• Department of Education, Practice and Society