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No advantage to setting - experts | No advantage to setting - experts |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Setting in primary schools by ability has no clear advantages, but can have a detrimental effect on children in the bottom groups, a report says. | |
Setting is when children are in ability groups for different subjects. | Setting is when children are in ability groups for different subjects. |
Those in the top group work faster and have enhanced learning opportunities, with teachers expecting more from them, a team of academics from London said. | Those in the top group work faster and have enhanced learning opportunities, with teachers expecting more from them, a team of academics from London said. |
But those in the lower groups can be stigmatised, and often have their activities restricted, the report said. | But those in the lower groups can be stigmatised, and often have their activities restricted, the report said. |
The findings come nearly a decade after then prime minister Tony Blair said schools needed to "take account of different abilities, for example by setting". | The findings come nearly a decade after then prime minister Tony Blair said schools needed to "take account of different abilities, for example by setting". |
Another finding of the paper, published as part of the Primary Review - a wide-ranging examination of primary school education - suggested class sizes should be cut to a maximum of 25 to help young children who struggle with reading. | Another finding of the paper, published as part of the Primary Review - a wide-ranging examination of primary school education - suggested class sizes should be cut to a maximum of 25 to help young children who struggle with reading. |
It also suggested that smaller classes could help children in the first year of secondary school. | It also suggested that smaller classes could help children in the first year of secondary school. |
'Arbitrary affair' | 'Arbitrary affair' |
On setting, the report said: "Teachers believe that they are matching instruction to the level of the students' ability, but the evidence suggests that many pupils find the work they are given is inappropriate; often it is too easy.". | On setting, the report said: "Teachers believe that they are matching instruction to the level of the students' ability, but the evidence suggests that many pupils find the work they are given is inappropriate; often it is too easy.". |
In fact, teaching quality had the biggest influence on whether pupils were successful or not, said the researchers from the Institute of Education and King's College, University of London. | In fact, teaching quality had the biggest influence on whether pupils were successful or not, said the researchers from the Institute of Education and King's College, University of London. |
And teaching quality varied from group to group. | And teaching quality varied from group to group. |
Pupils were aware of the grouping structures in their schools. | Pupils were aware of the grouping structures in their schools. |
Those in the lower and the top groups were often teased by their peers, while those in the lowest group could be stigmatised, they said. | Those in the lower and the top groups were often teased by their peers, while those in the lowest group could be stigmatised, they said. |
But the researchers added that the allocation of pupils to groups was a "somewhat arbitrary affair" and often depended on factors not related to attainment. | But the researchers added that the allocation of pupils to groups was a "somewhat arbitrary affair" and often depended on factors not related to attainment. |
It continued: "The adoption of structured ability groupings therefore has no positive effects on attainment but has detrimental effects on the social and personal outcomes for some children." | It continued: "The adoption of structured ability groupings therefore has no positive effects on attainment but has detrimental effects on the social and personal outcomes for some children." |
The researchers said group working within classes offered more flexibility when done well. | The researchers said group working within classes offered more flexibility when done well. |
But they added that it could be used more effectively. | But they added that it could be used more effectively. |
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