Secondary school teachers’ attitudes towards and beliefs about ability grouping

I have quite a lot of reservations about the current system (setting) as it
results in social barriers and an ability class system within the school. The
more able pupils are seen as swots and squares and less able pupils are
seen as thickies, idiots, etc. Stereotyping leads to low self-esteem in lower
groupings and an air of arrogance with the able. (Religious education
teacher, set school)

Perceived inequity of ability grouping

Table 3 displays the responses made by the teachers in relation to the equity of ability
grouping structures. Overall, there was a general tendency to disagree that setting
benefited the more able pupils at the expense of the less able, that mixed ability
teaching in reality only benefited the average child and that mixed ability teaching
benefited the less able pupils academically at the expense of the more able. There was
very strong agreement that mixed ability classes provided the less able pupils with
positive models of achievement. There were significant differences in responses to the
statements between teachers working in schools adopting different ability grouping
structures, particularly in relation to issues of opportunity and fairness.

Table 3 about here

Perceived effects of ability grouping on discipline and disaffection

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