Secondary school teachers’ attitudes towards and beliefs about ability grouping

Percentage responses to statements regarding the perceived personal and social
effects of different kinds of ability grouping

Type of ability

Strongly

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly

Statements

grouping

agree

disagree

Pupil self-esteem is
unaffected by ability

MA school

1.2 (6)

11.3 (57)

20.2 (102)

45.5 (230)

20.8 (105)

grouping

PS school

1.6 (8)

12.9 (65)

24.2 (122)

45.5 (230)

14.5 (73)

Set school

.8 (5)

13.2 (80)

22.5 (137)

49 (298)

13.7 (83)

NS

Total

1.2 (19)

12.5 (202)

22.3 (361)

46.8 (758)

16.1 (261)

Setting has a damaging
effect on the self-

MA school

18.4 (93)

40.5 (205)

17 (86)

19 (96)

4.3 (22)

esteem of those in

PS school

9.7 (49)

34.1 (172)

20 (101)

30.3 (153)

4.4 (22)

lower sets

Set school

9 (55)

36.3 (221)

20.2 (123)

30.4 (185)

3.3 (20)

x²= 47.31, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

12.2 (197)

36.9 (598)

19.1 (310)

26.8 (434)

4 (64)

Setting children
stigmatises those

MA school

27.1 (137)

36.6 (185)

12.8 (65)

19 (96)

3.2 (16)

perceived as less able

PS school

11.1 (56)

38.6 (195)

18.4 (93)

23.8 (120)

6.7 (34)

Set school

9.7 (59)

45.1 (274)

15.8 (96)

22.2 (135)

6.3 (38)

x²= 85.01, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

15.6 (252)

40.4 (654)

15.7 (254)

21.7 (351)

5.4 (88)

In mixed ability classes
the less able pupils are

MA school

6.5 (33)

32.4 (164)

16.4 (83)

32.4 (164)

10.7 (54)

more aware of what

PS school

7.9 (40)

40.8 (206)

17.8 (90)

26.1 (132)

6.5 (33)

they are unable to do.
They are aware that
other pupils are doing
different work

Set school

6.9 (42)

43.4 (264)

17.8 (108)

25.5 (155)

4.4 (27)

x²= 31.71, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

7.1 (115)

39.2 (634)

17.4 (281)

27.9 (451)

7(114)

Less able children

MA school

2.2 (11)

37.4 (189)

20.8 (105)

34 (172)

5.1 (26)

compare themselves
unfavourably to more

PS school

6.1 (31)

44.2 (223)

22 (111)

22.8 (115)

3 (15)

able children in mixed
ability classes

Set school

4.1 (25)

42.4 (258)

27.5 (167)

23.7 (144)

1.3 (8)

x²= 47.5, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

4.1 (67)

41.4 (670)

23.7 (383)

26.6 (431)

3 (49)

Mixed ability grouping

MA school

15.8 (80)

47 (238)

20.8 (105)

13.2 (67)

2 (10)

leads to better social

PS school

9.7 (49)

43.4 (219)

27.9 (141)

15.2 (77)

2.8 (14)