Re‐asserting the place of context in explaining student (under‐)achievement

Abstract

One popular view of student achievement is that the quality of teaching students receive plays an important part in whether or not they do well at school. In this article we draw attention to ‘context’ as a complementary explanation, particularly regarding achievement differences between students from different socio‐economic backgrounds. In making these observations, we utilise data from one Australian secondary school located in an economically depressed rural community. Drawing on the insights of Bourdieu, our focus is on the broader social and economic influences that can adversely position students and schools, as well as work to inform the institutional stance that schools take in relation to their students.

Keywords:

• context
• student achievement
• Bourdieu
• socio‐economic background
• disadvantage
• schooling

Notes

1. This is a gap reminiscent of the one emerging in labour market remunerations (Gale 2005).