The production of urban educational space

Abstract

It is widely recognised that large urban centres exhibit significant and enduring patterns of educational inequality. This paper explores the social production of urban educational space. In particular, it argues that since these patterns are geographical, it will be useful to revisit the emergence of an ‘urban crisis’ in education and attempts, by geographers, in the 1970s and 1980s, to explain spatial differences in educational attainment. For much of the past two decades, educational policy has tended to adopt an ‘a-spatial’ approach, and the final part of the paper looks forward to the prospect of an updated and culturally informed analysis of education in cities.

Keywords:

• cultural turn
• geography
• inequality
• space
• urban educational space

Notes

The General Certificate of Secondary Education is taken by 16-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education is taken by 18-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

‘Chelsea tractor’ is the humorous name given to a four-wheel-drive or off-road vehicle which is used predominantly in urban areas, especially the wealthy inner suburbs of London such as Chelsea.