Becky Francis

Presenting original quantitative and qualitative data from a large-scale empirical research project conducted in British secondary schools, Reassessing ‘Ability’ Grouping analyses the impact of attainment grouping on pupil outcomes, teacher effectiveness and social equality. Alongside a comprehensive account of existing literature and the international field, this book offers: Rigorous conceptual analysis of data A view of wider political debates on pupils' social backgrounds and educational attainment A discussion of the practicalities of classroom practice Recommendations for improved practice to maximise pupil outcomes, experiences and equity Vignettes, illustrative tables and graphs, as well as quotes from teacher interviews and pupil focus groupsAddressing attainment grouping as an obstacle to raising pupil attainment, this book offers a distinctive, wide-ranging appraisal of the international field, new large-scale empirical evidence, and ‘close to practice’ attention to the practicalities and constraints of the classroom. Reassessing ‘Ability’ Grouping is an essential read for any practitioners and policymakers, as well as students engaged in the field of education and social justice.

Presenting original quantitative and qualitative data from a large-scale empirical research project conducted in British secondary schools, Reassessing ‘Ability’ Grouping analyses the impact of attainment grouping on pupil outcomes, teacher effectiveness and social equality. Alongside a comprehensive account of existing literature and the international field, this book offers: Rigorous conceptual analysis of data A view of wider political debates on pupils' social backgrounds and educational attainment A discussion of the practicalities of classroom practice Recommendations for improved practice to maximise pupil outcomes, experiences and equity Vignettes, illustrative tables and graphs, as well as quotes from teacher interviews and pupil focus groupsAddressing attainment grouping as an obstacle to raising pupil attainment, this book offers a distinctive, wide-ranging appraisal of the international field, new large-scale empirical evidence, and ‘close to practice’ attention to the practicalities and constraints of the classroom. Reassessing ‘Ability’ Grouping is an essential read for any practitioners and policymakers, as well as students engaged in the field of education and social justice.

This title addresses the tension between high achievement and popularity in secondary schools, exploring the sociological impact of this in the lives of young people. How do some students manage to excel in their studies and be popular while other high achievers are treated as social outcasts? This lively and accessible text looks at the relationships between gender, race and social class, and attainment and popularity, for high achieving pupils. The internationally renowned authors present a lucid theoretical framework that reflects the complexity of these issues, placing them within the broader context of the policies which cause and constrain particular behaviours among teachers and pupils. The authors draw together empirical data, bringing the realities of young people to life and presenting the lessons that can be learnt to enhance the educational achievement of all students. Issues covered include: the social consequences for the 'too hardworking'; the tension between high achievement and popularity; and, the classroom practices adopted by pupils accomplishing popularity and high achievement. This is an engaging text for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students exploring the debates on identity and achievement.

This title addresses the tension between high achievement and popularity in secondary schools, exploring the sociological impact of this in the lives of young people. How do some students manage to excel in their studies and be popular while other high achievers are treated as social outcasts? This lively and accessible text looks at the relationships between gender, race and social class, and attainment and popularity, for high achieving pupils. The internationally renowned authors present a lucid theoretical framework that reflects the complexity of these issues, placing them within the broader context of the policies which cause and constrain particular behaviours among teachers and pupils. The authors draw together empirical data, bringing the realities of young people to life and presenting the lessons that can be learnt to enhance the educational achievement of all students. Issues covered include: the social consequences for the 'too hardworking'; the tension between high achievement and popularity; and, the classroom practices adopted by pupils accomplishing popularity and high achievement. This is an engaging text for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students exploring the debates on identity and achievement.

Feminism and ‘The Schooling Scandal’ brings together feminist contributions from two generations of educational researchers, evaluating and celebrating the field of gender and education. The focus throughout is on the years of compulsory schooling, examining key concepts in gender and education identified and developed by international thinkers in educational feminism. Topics covered include:social class, ethnicity and sexuality in relation to experiences in school; theories and methodologies for understanding gender;pedagogy and practice in education; andthe direction of educational policy and the ‘problem of boys’. Providing a comprehensive overview of contemporary research and theory emerging from ‘second wave’ feminism and assessing their impact on pupils and teachers in today’s schools and classrooms, this book forms essential reading for anyone studying gender and education.

Feminism and ‘The Schooling Scandal’ brings together feminist contributions from two generations of educational researchers, evaluating and celebrating the field of gender and education. The focus throughout is on the years of compulsory schooling, examining key concepts in gender and education identified and developed by international thinkers in educational feminism. Topics covered include:social class, ethnicity and sexuality in relation to experiences in school; theories and methodologies for understanding gender;pedagogy and practice in education; andthe direction of educational policy and the ‘problem of boys’. Providing a comprehensive overview of contemporary research and theory emerging from ‘second wave’ feminism and assessing their impact on pupils and teachers in today’s schools and classrooms, this book forms essential reading for anyone studying gender and education.

Providing fresh insights and understandings about educationally ‘successful’ minority ethnic pupils, this book examines the views, identities and educational experiences of those pupils who are undoubtedly ‘achieving’, but who tend to remain ignored within popular concerns about under-achievement. Combining a broad analysis of minority ethnic pupils’ achievement together with a novel, detailed case study of an educationally ‘successful’ group, the British-Chinese, this book examines a fascinating angle on debates about the reproduction of social inequalities. In this thought-provoking and highly accessible book, the authors:review the theoretical and policy context to issues of ‘race’, gender, social class and achievement discuss the role of teachers and schools explore Chinese parents’ views of their children’s education and explain how these families ‘produce’ and support achievement investigate British-Chinese pupils’ views on their approaches to learning and their educational identities examine the relationship between aspirations and educational achievement consider the complexity and subtlety of racisms experienced by ‘successful’ minority ethnic pupils. This timely and authoritative book contributes to the ongoing debates about levels of achievement among minority ethnic pupils and is an essential book for all researchers, students, education professionals and policy-makers.

Providing fresh insights and understandings about educationally ‘successful’ minority ethnic pupils, this book examines the views, identities and educational experiences of those pupils who are undoubtedly ‘achieving’, but who tend to remain ignored within popular concerns about under-achievement. Combining a broad analysis of minority ethnic pupils’ achievement together with a novel, detailed case study of an educationally ‘successful’ group, the British-Chinese, this book examines a fascinating angle on debates about the reproduction of social inequalities. In this thought-provoking and highly accessible book, the authors:review the theoretical and policy context to issues of ‘race’, gender, social class and achievement discuss the role of teachers and schools explore Chinese parents’ views of their children’s education and explain how these families ‘produce’ and support achievement investigate British-Chinese pupils’ views on their approaches to learning and their educational identities examine the relationship between aspirations and educational achievement consider the complexity and subtlety of racisms experienced by ‘successful’ minority ethnic pupils. This timely and authoritative book contributes to the ongoing debates about levels of achievement among minority ethnic pupils and is an essential book for all researchers, students, education professionals and policy-makers.

Challenging current theories about gender and achievement, this book assesses the issues at stake and analyses the policy drives and changing perceptions of gender on which the 'gender and achievement' debates are based. This new topical book guides the reader through the different theories and approaches, drawing together and reviewing work on gender and educational performance. The authors also highlight the continuing problems experienced by girls in terms of achievement and classroom interaction. The subjects covered include:perspectives on gender and achievementthe construction of gender and achievement in education policyevaluating boys’ underachievementthe future for boys and girls?raising achievement: 'What works in the classroom?'Teachers, education professionals and students engaged in teacher training will welcome the editors' objective yet critical expertise.

Challenging current theories about gender and achievement, this book assesses the issues at stake and analyses the policy drives and changing perceptions of gender on which the 'gender and achievement' debates are based. This new topical book guides the reader through the different theories and approaches, drawing together and reviewing work on gender and educational performance. The authors also highlight the continuing problems experienced by girls in terms of achievement and classroom interaction. The subjects covered include:perspectives on gender and achievementthe construction of gender and achievement in education policyevaluating boys’ underachievementthe future for boys and girls?raising achievement: 'What works in the classroom?'Teachers, education professionals and students engaged in teacher training will welcome the editors' objective yet critical expertise.

Girls are now out-performing boys at GCSE level, giving rise to a debate in the media on boys' underachievement. However, often such work has been a 'knee-jerk' response, led by media, not based on solid research. Boys, Girls and Achievement - Addressing the Classroom Issues fills that gap and:*provides a critical overview of the current debate on achievement;*Focuses on interviews with young people and classroom observations to examine how boys and girls see themselves as learners;*analyses the strategies teachers can use to improve the educational achievements of both boys and girls. Becky Francis provides teachers with a thorough analysis of the various ways in which secondary school pupils construct their gender identities in the classroom. The book also discusses methods teachers might use challenge these gender constructions in the classroom and thereby address the 'gender-gap' in achievement.

Girls are now out-performing boys at GCSE level, giving rise to a debate in the media on boys' underachievement. However, often such work has been a 'knee-jerk' response, led by media, not based on solid research. Boys, Girls and Achievement - Addressing the Classroom Issues fills that gap and:*provides a critical overview of the current debate on achievement;*Focuses on interviews with young people and classroom observations to examine how boys and girls see themselves as learners;*analyses the strategies teachers can use to improve the educational achievements of both boys and girls. Becky Francis provides teachers with a thorough analysis of the various ways in which secondary school pupils construct their gender identities in the classroom. The book also discusses methods teachers might use challenge these gender constructions in the classroom and thereby address the 'gender-gap' in achievement.