Processes Inside Schools – GCSE Sociology WJEC Revision

Overview of Processes inside Schools

Formal curriculum: In educational institutes, the officially mandated syllabus forms this. Subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science are part of this curriculum.
Informal curriculum: This refers to lessons learned outside the enforced curriculum, through school life experiences, popular as the ‘hidden curriculum’.
Assessment: This is a core part of the schooling system, which measures the pupils’ understanding, readiness and knowledge through tests and exams.

Labelling theory: This sociological theory proposes that pupils may be ‘labelled’ by teachers based on subjective perceptions. These labels, whether positive or negative, can profoundly influence a pupil’s self-perception and behaviour.
Streaming: This is the practice of segregating pupils into different ability groups or ‘streams’. This process can affect the self-esteem, confidence and academic achievement of pupils.
Pygmalion effect: This theory states that higher expectations from teachers can lead to an improvement in individual pupils’ performance.
Self-fulfilling prophecy: This occurs when a prediction, directly or indirectly, brings about its fulfilment. In an educational setting, if a teacher believes a pupil will achieve low grades, the pupil might start to believe this and perform poorly.

School culture: This term encompasses the shared beliefs, norms, and values within a school community. It can influence pupils’ attitudes towards education and their overall school experience.
Peer groups: Friendships and social interactions can significantly shape a pupil’s academic performance, attitude towards school, and development of personal identity.
Bullying: This is a counterproductive behaviour characterised by aggression, intentional harm, and power imbalance, which negatively influences the school environment and a person’s academic performance.

Education policies: These are guidelines or rules established by the government or governing bodies to manage and facilitate educational systems effectively.
Equality of opportunity: Education policies aim to ensure that every pupil, regardless of their background and circumstances, has equal access to education.
Marketisation of education: This is a policy where principles of the commercial market, like competition and choice, are employed to improve the quality of education.

Material deprivation: This term refers to the lack of physical resources such as a quiet study space, books, or a computer, which could affect a pupil’s academic performance.
Cultural capital: Proposed by Bourdieu, this sociological concept underlines the significance of cultural awareness, habits, skills, and education to improve a person’s social mobility. For example, children from higher social classes might possess more cultural capital which enhances their academic success.
Social class and aspirations: A pupil’s aspirations and expectations for their educational journey and life beyond school might be influenced by their social class background.