In-School Processes

The AQA specification identifies "relationships and processes within schools" as a separate topic, requiring you to bring together and deepen your understanding of internal factors across class, ethnicity, and gender. This lesson consolidates and extends the analysis of labelling, the self-fulfilling prophecy, streaming, pupil subcultures, pupil identities, the hidden curriculum, institutional racism, and the effects of marketisation on in-school processes. You must be able to analyse how these processes interact to produce differential outcomes for different groups of pupils.

Key Definition: In-school processes refer to the interactions, relationships, structures, and institutional practices within educational settings that shape pupils' experiences, identities, and ultimately their educational outcomes.

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Labelling Theory in Depth

Labelling theory, rooted in the interactionist tradition, argues that teachers' perceptions and classifications of pupils have a powerful impact on their educational outcomes. The key insight is that labels are not neutral descriptions of pupils' abilities — they are social constructions that reflect teachers' assumptions about social class, ethnicity, and gender.

How Labels Are Constructed