The role of attitudes and behaviours in explaining socio-economic differences in attainment at age 11

PA Gregg, EV Washbrook

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

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Abstract

This paper explores the correlates of the socio-economic gradient in children’s educational performance through the primary school years. Thus it sits between the companion papers on pre-school cognitive outcomes and attainment in the secondary school years in this Special Issue. The poorest 20% of children score, on average 14 percentile points lower than the middle 20% in Key Stage 2 tests at age 11, and 31 percentile points lower than the richest 20%. Overall around one third of the attainment gaps by socio-economic background at age 11 are found to emerge after age 7. The evolution of attainment gaps over this period is found to be related a range of attitudes to education and behavioural patterns of the study children. Low maternal aspirations for the child’s final educational attainment are strongly linked to the widening socio-economic gap during these years, over and above their influence on the child’s own measured attitudes and behaviours.
Translated title of the contributionThe role of attitudes and behaviours in explaining socio-economic differences in attainment at age 11
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41 - 58
Number of pages18
JournalLongitudinal and Life Course Studies
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jan 2011

Bibliographical note

Other identifier: Issue 1

Keywords

  • education
  • inter-generational transmission
  • socio-economic gap
  • aspirations
  • educational attainment

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