Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

School Type and Inequality

  • Chapter
Contemporary Debates in the Sociology of Education

Abstract

Educational outcomes are strongly associated with family background, with children from higher socio-economic backgrounds being more likely to be academically successful than those from lower socio-economic backgrounds (Breen and Jonsson, 2005; OECD, 2012; Pfeffer, 2008). However, since the Second World War, in the majority of developed states, attention has been focused on increasing educational opportunities between different socio-economic groups; girls and boys; those from different migrant, ethnic or racial groups; and those with and without special educational needs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, J. and Schmuecker, K. (2006) Devolution in practice 2006 (London: IPPR).

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, R. and West, A. (2009) ‘Religious schools in London: school admissions, religious composition and selectivity’, Oxford Review of Education, 35(4), 471–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, R., Coldron, J. and West, A. (2012) ‘The effect of changes in published secondary school admissions on pupil composition’, Journal of Education Policy, 27(3), 349–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, R. and West, A. (2011) ‘Why do faith secondary schools have advantaged intakes? The relative importance of neighbourhood characteristics, social background and religious identification amongst parents’, British Educational Research Journal, 37(4), 691–712.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allmendinger, J. (1989) ‘Educational systems and labor market outcomes’, European Sociological Review, 5(3), 231–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumert, J., Maaz, K., Stanat, P. and Watermann, R. (2009) ‘Schulkomposition oder Institution — was zählt? Schulstrukturen und die Entstehung schulformspezifischer Entwicklungsverläufe’, Die Deutsche Schule, 101(1), 33–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, R. (2003) ‘Educational expansion and persistent inequalities of education: utilizing the subjective expected utility theory to explain the increasing participation rates in upper secondary school in the Federal Republic of Germany’, European Sociological Review, 19(1), 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) (2010) 19. Sozialerhebung (Bonn: BMBF).

    Google Scholar 

  • Blömeke, S. (2006) ‘Globalization and educational reform in German teacher education’, International Journal of Educational Research, 45(4–5), 315–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boudon, R. (1974) Education, opportunity and social inequality. Changing prospects in Western society (New York: Wiley).

    Google Scholar 

  • Breen, R. and Goldthorpe, J.H. (1997) ‘Explaining educational differentials. Towards a formal rational action theory’, Rationality and Society, 9(3), 275–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breen, R. and Jonsson, J.O. (2000) ‘Analyzing educational careers: a multinomial transition model’, American Sociological Revue, 65(5), 754–772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breen, R. and Jonsson, J.O. (2005) ‘Inequality of opportunity in comparative perspective: recent research on educational attainment and social mobility’, Annual Review of Sociology, 31, 223–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breen, R., Luijxk, R., Müller, W. and Pollak, R. (2009) ‘Nonpersistent inequality in educational attainment: evidence from eight European countries’, American Journal of Sociology, 114(5), 1475–1521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J.S. (1975) ‘What is meant by “An equal educational opportunity”?’, Oxford Review of Education, 1(1), 27–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croxford, L. (2011) School systems across the UK (London: RISE).

    Google Scholar 

  • David, M., West, A. and Ribbens, J. (1994) Mother’s intuition? Choosing secondary schools (London: The Falmer Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (2008) The composition of schools in England (London: DCSF).

    Google Scholar 

  • Department for Education (DfE) (2012a) GCSE and equivalent results in England 2010/11 (Revised) SFR 02/2012, http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/s/sfr%2002–2012.pdf, date accessed 28 August 2012.

  • Department for Education (DfE) (2012b) GCE/Applied GCE A/AS levels and equivalent examination results in England 2010/11 (Revised) SFR 01/2012, http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001055/sfr01–2012.pdf, date accessed 28 August 2012.

  • Department for Education (DfE) (2012c) What’s different about academies? http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b00205692/whati-sanacademy, date accessed 26 October 2012.

  • Department for Education and Skills (DfES) (2007) Gender and education: the evidence on pupils in England. London: DfES, http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/RRP/u015238/index.shtml, date accessed 20 August 2012.

  • Ditton, H. and Krüsken, J. (2006) ‘Der Übergang von der Grundschule in die Sekundarstufe’, Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, 9(3), 348–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, R. and Jonsson, J.O. (1996) ‘Explaining class inequality in education: the Swedish test case’, in R. Erikson and J.O. Jonsson (eds) Can education be equalized? (Boulder, CO: Westview Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Flatley, J., Conolly, H., Higgins, V. and Williams, J. (2001) Parents’ experiences of the process of choosing a secondary school (London: DfES).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gewirtz, S., Ball, S. and Bowe, R. (1995) Markets, choice and equity in education (Buckingham: Open University Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaesser, J. and Cooper, B. (2011) ‘Selectivity and flexibility in the German secondary school system: a configurational analysis of recent data from the german socioeconomic panel’, European Sociological Review, 27(5), 570–585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gresch, C. (2012) Der Übergang in die Sekundarstufe I. Leistungsbeurteilung, Bildungsaspiration und rechtlicher Kontext bei Kindern mit Migrationshintergrund (Wiesbaden: Springer VS).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatcher, R. (1998) ‘Class differentiation: rational choices?’, British Journal of Sociology of Education, 19(1), 5–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heckman, J. (2006) ‘Skill formation and the economics of investing in disadvantaged children’, Science, 312(5782), 1900–1902.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopper, E.I. (1968) ‘A typology for the classification of educational systems’, Sociology, 2(1), 29–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerckhoff, A.C. (1995) ‘Institutional arrangements and stratification processes in industrial societies’, Annual Review of Sociology, 15, 323–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, M., Schindler, S., Pollack, R. and Müller, W. (2009) ‘Soziale Disparitäten in der Sekundarstufe und ihre langfristige Entwicklung’, Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, Special Issue No. 12, 47–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klieme, E., Artelt, C., Hartig, J., Jude, J., Köller, O., Prenzel, M., Schneider, W. and Stanat, P. (2010) (eds) Pisa 2009. Bilanz nach einem Jahrzehnt (Münster et al.: Waxmann).

    Google Scholar 

  • Maaz, K., Trautwein, U., Lüdtke, O. and Baumert, J. (2008) ‘Educational transitions and differential learning environments: how explicit between-school tracking contributes to social inequality in educational outcomes’, Child Development Perspectives, 2(2), 99–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maaz, K. and Nagy, G. (2009) ‘Der Übergang von der Grundschule in die weiterführenden Schulen des Sekundarschulsystems: Definition, Spezifikation und Quantifizierung primärer und sekundärer Herkunftseffekte’, Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, Special Issue No. 12, 153–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W. and Karle, W. (1993) ‘Social selection in educational systems in Europe’, European Sociological Review, 9(1), 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neugebauer, M. (2010) ‘Bildungsungleichheit und Grundschulempfehlung beim Übergang auf das Gymnasium: Eine Dekomposition primärer und sekundärer Herkunftseffekte’, Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 39(3), 202–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noden, P., West, A., David, M. and Edge, A. (1998) ‘Choices and destinations at transfer to secondary schools in London’, Journal of Education Policy, 13(2), 221–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2010a) PISA 2009 results: learning trends (Volume V) (Paris: OECD).

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2010b) PISA 2009 results: overcoming social background — equity in learning opportunities and outcomes (Volume II) (Paris: OECD).

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2012) Education at a glance (Paris: OECD).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeffer, F. (2008) ‘Persistent inequality in educational attainment and its institutional context’, European Sociological Review, 24(5), 543–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schimpl-Neimanns, B. (2000) ‘Soziale Herkunft und Bildungsbeteiligung’, Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, 52(4), 636–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, S.L. and Thieben, N. (2011) ‘A healthy sorting machine? Social inequality in the transition to upper secondary education in Germany’, Oxford Review of Education, 37(2), 139–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shavit, Y. and Blossfeld, H.P. (1993) (eds) Persistent inequality: changing educational attainment in thirteen countries (Boulder: Westview Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shavit, Y., Yaish, M. and Bar-Haim, E. (2007) ‘The persistence of persistent inequality’, in S. Scherer, R. Pollak, G. Otte and M. Gangl (eds) From origin to destination. Trends and mechanisms in social stratification research (Berlin: Campus).

    Google Scholar 

  • Solga, H. and Wagner, S. (2007) ‘Die Zurückgelassenen — die soziale Verarmung der Lernumwelt von Hauptschülerinnen und Hauptschülern’ in R. Becker and W. Lauterbach (eds) Bildung als Privileg (Wiesbaden: VS Verlag).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanat, P. (2006) ‘Schulleistungen von Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund: Die Rolle der Zusammensetzung der Schülerschaft’ in J. Baumert, P. Stanat and R. Watermann (eds) Herkunftsbedingte Disparitäten im Bildungswesen: Differenzielle Bildungsprozesse und Probleme der Verteilungsgerechtigkeit (Wiesbaden: VS Verlag).

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistisches Bundesamt (StBA) (2011) Bildung und Kultur. Allgemeinbildende Schulen. Schuljahr 2010/2011, Fachserie 11 (Wiesbaden: StBA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton Trust (2006) The social composition of top comprehensive schools: rates of eligibility for free school meals at the 200 highest performing comprehensive schools (London: The Sutton Trust).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton Trust (2009) Attainment gaps between the most deprived and advantaged schools: a summary and discussion of research by the Education Research Group at the LSE (London: The Sutton Trust).

    Google Scholar 

  • Walford, G. (2008) ‘Faith-based schools in England after ten years of Tony Blair’, Oxford Review of Education, 34(6), 689–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, A., Allmendinger, J., Nikolai, R. and Barham, E. (2010) ‘Policy decentralization and educational achievement in Germany and the UK’, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(3), 450–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, A. and Bailey, E. (2013) ‘The development of the academies programme: “privatising” school-based education in England 1986–2013’, British Journal of Educational Studies (forthcoming).

    Google Scholar 

  • West, A., Barham, E. and Hind, A. (2011) ‘Secondary school admissions: impact of legislation on policy and practice’, Oxford Review of Education, 37(1), 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, A. and Nikolai, R. (2013) ‘Welfare regimes and education regimes: equality of opportunity and expenditure in the EU (and US)’, Journal of Social Policy (forthcoming).

    Google Scholar 

Suggestions for further reading

  • Ahier, J., Cosin, B. and Hales, M. (1996) Diversity and change: education, policy and selection (London: Routledge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Archer, M.S. (1979) Social origins of educational systems (London: Sage).

    Google Scholar 

  • Arum, R., Beattie, I. and Ford, K. (2011) The structure of schooling. Readings in the sociology of education (second edition) (London: Sage).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Rita Nikolai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anne West
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Surrey, UK

    Rachel Brooks

  2. Durham University, UK

    Mark McCormack

  3. University of Southampton, UK

    Kalwant Bhopal

Copyright information

© 2013 Rita Nikolai and Anne West

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nikolai, R., West, A. (2013). School Type and Inequality. In: Brooks, R., McCormack, M., Bhopal, K. (eds) Contemporary Debates in the Sociology of Education. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137269881_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation