School choice and local place: parental perceptions and the impact of race, ethnicity and class.

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Social Sciences

Abstract

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Description The project produced findings in three main areas. The first set of findings concern the experience of migrants in the process of school choice. Whilst this is clearly a very diverse groups, it was also clear that the policy emphasis on parent's exercising choice in their children's schooling, presents particular issues for those who have had their own schooling elsewhere. For some, their attempts to integrate their children into the school system had caused particular stress and have shown that they did not have the necessary social and cultural resources to navigate the process successfully.
A second set of findings concern the different discourses that circulate in parents' interviews around the question of multiculturalism and ethnic and racial mixing. They offer a fresh perspective on the questions of mix and schooling, but considering the views of both white and ethnic minority parents together. This analysis has shown how there are a range of perspectives expressed both by ethnic minority and white parents. For some white parents, ethnic diversity in schools is embraced as a positive asset , whilst others express reservations about racialised 'others', resorting to notions of gang culture, discipline and at times questions of religious difference. Equally, for ethnic minorities, some have a similarly positive view of ethnically diverse schools. But they also may consider more diverse schools to be less likely to have problems with racism. On the other hand, for a minority of parents from ethnic minorities, they see ethnically diverse schools (or perhaps particularly those with a large group of a specific minority) as being potential ghettos, and places where rigid notions of culture and religious observance prevail, to the detriment of their children. In these responses, as with others, the intertwining of questions of race and class are particularly important. Another view that only parents from ethnic minorities expressed was that they themselves might be seen as a cultural resource and force for educating the white majority on diversity and difference.
A third set of findings focuses particularly on questions of class - taking the interviews on school choice as a site for the production of discourses about classed (from both white and ethnic minority respondents).
Exploitation Route This research presents opportunities for further analysis of the ways in which migrants navigate school choice, the implications of racialised and classed discourses around schools. These also suggest possibilities of thinking differently about the mechanisms of school choice and how they recreate class and ethnic segregation in schools as well as the ways in which schools market themselves to respond to these discourses.
Sectors Education,Government, Democracy and Justice
 
Description Throughout the project and after the project, it was accompanied with discussions with headteachers and others engaged in school place allocation, including presentation to school governors. It has also been used to write about class in an A level sociology magazine.
First Year Of Impact 2011
Sector Education
Impact Types Societal
 
Description Article for 'A' Level magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Publication of article: Migrant parents choosing schools for their children in Manchester'

Good response from the magazine Sociology Review
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Feedback to school governors 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The research was fed back to the governors of one of the schools in my study - which particularly reflected on why parents chose that school and what factors influenced their decisions. There was a good discussion afterwards and sharing of information.

I continue to be in dialogue with the governors.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Interview Voice of Islam Radio 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interview with Voice of Islam Radio on class and migration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019