Class, Ethnicity, and Exam Subject Entry: Trends From Academic Year 2002 to 2009

• In Event: Global Visions of Curriculum: Culture, Education, and Meaning

Abstract

This paper describes patterns of entry in English Baccalaureate subjects (E-Bacc) from academic years 2002 to 2009. E-Bacc subjects have increasingly been regarded as an important gateway qualification for higher level study. This overview examines how entry to these subjects has changed in the context of government policies and initiatives. The results show that E-Bacc entry decreased considerably between 2002 to 2009. Throughout the period there were more female students than males entered for the award, and this gap between the genders grew wider over time. There was significant ethnic variation in E-Bacc entry, and the probability of E-Bacc entry for ethnic minority pupils varied according to their free school meals (free lunch) (FSM) status.

Authors

• Priya Khambhaita, Southampton Education School

• Christopher Downey, University of Southampton

• Daniel R. Muijs, University of Southampton

• Anthony J. Kelly, University of Southampton