Ability-grouping in Primary Schools

Case Studies and Critical Debates

Rachel Marks, Ian Menter

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN:
  9781040374641
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Education

The use of ability-grouping is currently increasing in primary schools. Teachers and teacher educators are placed in the unenviable position of having to marry research evidence suggesting that ability-grouping is ineffectual with current policy advocating this approach.This book links theory, policy and practice in a critical examination of ability-grouping practices and their implications in primary schools, with particular reference to primary mathematics. It provides an accessible text for teacher educators to support their students in engaging with the key debates and reflecting upon their practice. Key changes in structural approaches, such as the movement between streaming, setting or mixed-ability teaching arrangements, are explored in the light of political trends, bringing this up to date with a discussion of current policy and practice.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• About the series editor and author
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Ability-grouping: theory, policy and practice
• Chapter 3 Riverside, Avenue and Parkview Primary Schools
• Chapter 4 Ability-labelling and children’s identities
• Chapter 5 Ability-grouping and pedagogic practices
• Chapter 6 More than pedagogy: ability-grouping and the primary school environment
• Chapter 7 How do children experience ability practices in the primary classroom?
• Chapter 8 Conclusion: should we just change the language?
• References
• Index