Education in a multicultural environment: equity issues in teaching and learning in the school system in England

Abstract

The paper focuses on the auditing and accountancy paradigm that has dominated educational measurement of pupil performance for the last 20 years in England. The advocates of this minimum competency paradigm do not take account of the results of its dominance. These results include ignoring the heterogeneous complexity of groups within societies that exist now internationally and the reduction in pedagogy and curriculum experience to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model of teaching concentrated on the tested subjects. This is complemented by the ‘recitation script’ style of pedagogy in schools based on coverage, delivery, completion and measurement rather than interpretation and analysis to support the complexity and diversity of individual learning needs.

Keywords:

• class
• equity
• pedagogy
• testocracy
• meritocracy
• ethnicity

Notes

1. In England statutory schooling is provided for pupils between ages 5–16. Pupils study Key Stage One curriculum from ages 5–7; Key Stage Two from 7–11; Key Stage 3 from 11–14 and, finally, Key Stage 4 from 14–16, with GCSE public examinations prior to leaving school or continuing to non-statutory higher education.

2. The ethnic group category titled ‘Mixed’ in England refers to an aggregation of: White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian and any other Mixed background (Department for Education 2010).

3. TIMSS: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Studies, PISA: Programme for International student assessment, PIRLS: Progress in International Reading Literacy Study.

4. Legislation introduced the first National Curriculum and a centrally controlled annual external assessment system.

5. SAT: Standard Assessment Task.

6. Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, the organisation in England that inspects school teaching standards, curriculum etc.

7. National Strategies were introduced in all schools in England in 1998 (Literacy) and 1999 (Numeracy) to improve standards in those subjects.

8. End of Key Stage 2, this denotes the end of a child’s primary schooling in England and the national test that each child sits.

9. TDA process standards: The Teacher Development Agency in England developed a teacher training formula based on trainees using process competencies rather than on theoretical understandings of the stages of pupil learning.