Secondary school teachers’ attitudes towards and beliefs about ability grouping

adjustment for the less
able pupils

Set school

7.1 (43)

43.6 (265)

28.9 (176)

16.3 (99)

3.3 (20)

x²= 33.18, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

10.6 (172)

44.6 (722)

26.1 (422)

15 (243)

2.7 (44)

Mixed ability grouping

MA school

18.6 (94)

44.3 (224)

22.5 (114)

11.7 (59)

1.2 (6)

leads to better social
adjustment of all pupils

PS school

7.9 (40)

41.6 (210)

27.9 (141)

18 (91)

2.8 (14)

Set school

5.8 (35)

41.3 (251)

32.4 (197)

17.8 (108)

1.6 (10)

x²= 70.98, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

10.4 (169)

42.3 (685)

27.9 (452)

15.9 (258)

1.9 (30)

Overall motivation is

MA school

8.7 (44)

28.9 (146)

29.6 (150)

26.9 (136)

5.3 (27)

higher when pupils are
in mixed ability

PS school

4.2 (21)

15.8 (80)

34.7 (175)

33.9 (171)

9.7 (49)

classes.

Set school

3.3 (20)

18.8 (114)

31.9 (194)

36.3 (221)

8.9 (54)

x²= 57.58, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

5.3 (85)

21 (340)

32.1 (519)

32.6 (528)

8(130)

Knowing they are in a

MA school

12.3 (62)

34.2 (173)

17.8 (90)

29.2 (148)

5.5 (28)

low set leads to pupils
giving up.

PS school

7.1 (36)

28.5 (144)

16.8 (85)

39.4 (199)

6.5 (33)

Set school

6.9 (42)

31.1 (189)

17.1 (104)

38.2 (232)

5.8 (35)

x²= 23.41, df = 8,
p = .003

Total

8.6 (140)

31.3 (506)

17.2 (279)

35.8 (579)

5.9 (96)