Secondary school teachers’ attitudes towards and beliefs about ability grouping



Table 3

Percentage responses to statements concerning perceptions of issues of equity in
relation to the grouping of pupils by ability

Statements

Type of
ability
grouping

Strongly
agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly
disagree

Setting benefits the more
able pupils at the expense of

MA school

8.3 (42)

30 (152)

12.8 (65)

32 (162)

15.8 (80)

the less able

PS school

6.9 (35)

17.2 (87)

15.2 (77)

35.2 (178)

24.2 (122)

Set school

5.8 (35)

22.7 (138)

16.8 (102)

32.1 (195)

22 (134)

x2= 34.94, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

6.9 (112)

23.3(377)

15.1 (244)

33 (535)

20.8 (336)

MA school

10.3 (52)

35.6 (180)

18.2 (92)

26.5 (134)

8.9 (45)

Mixed ability grouping
gives each child a fair

PS school

5.7 (29)

20.6 (104)

20.6 (104)

33.7 (170)

17.8 (90)

chance

Set school

2.8 (17)

20.2 (123)

22.2 (135)

38.5 (234)

15 (91)

x2= 87.01, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

6.1 (98)

25.1 (407)

20.4 (331)

33.2 (538)

14 (226)

Mixed ability teaching in

MA school

3 (15)

18 (91)

19.4 (98)

42.3 (214)

16.4 (83)

reality only benefits the
average child

PS school

3.4 (17)

25.5 (129)

21 (106)

36.8 (186)

11.9 (60)

Set school

1.8 (11)

22.7 (138)

26.3 (160)

40.3 (245)

7.9 (48)

x2= 34.94, df = 8,
p = .0001

Total

2.7 (43)

22.1 (358)

22.5 (364)

39.8 (645)

11.8 (191)

Mixed ability classes
provide the less able pupils

MA school

11.1 (56)

51.8 (262)

21.5 (109)

13.4 (68)

1.6 (8)

with positive models of

PS school

8.3 (42)

47.7 (241)

22 (111)

18 (91)

3.6 (18)

achievement

Set school

8.4 (51)

51.3 (312)

21.7 (132)

15.6 (95)

2.1 (13)

NS

Total

9.2 (149)

50.3(815)

21.7 (352)

15.7 (254)

2.4 (39)

Mixed ability teaching
benefits the less able pupils

MA school

1.2 (6)

18.6 (94)

22.7 (115)

48 (243)

9.1 (46)

academically at the

PS school

3 (15)

22.6 (114)

27.1 (137)

38.6 (195)

6.9 (35)

expense of the more able

Set school

1.6 (10)

24 (146)

27.6 (168)

41.3 (251)

4.1 (25)

x2= 27.13, df = 8,
p = .001

Total

1.9 (31)

21.9 (354)

25.9 (420)

42.6 (689)

6.5 (106)

28



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