What different approaches were used for low attaining pupils from different social groups?
The researchers’ survey found that certain groups of pupils were generally over-represented in lower attaining groups. These included pupils from ethnic minorities, boys and pupils from lower socio-economic groups. There were pointers from the research about ways that these groups of pupils could be best supported. Ethnic background Pupils’ ethnic background was hardly mentioned by teachers and other staff in interviews about low attaining groups. Where it was mentioned, in some of the city schools in the study, teachers said that although there was racial tension and segregation outside the school, they worked hard to ensure that pupils generally got on well with each other. Any reported conflict was confined to the playground rather than the classroom: ‘I think as a school we’re quite good at getting pupils to leave their problems outside school when they come in.’ (Teacher) Language support was an area in which ethnicity was explicitly raised. One specialist teacher of a year 10 gro
