Outline some of the ways in which material deprivation may affect education achievement. (12 marks)
Material deprivation is the poverty and lack of material necessities, such as adequate housing and income. As an example, only 33% of children receving free school meals gained 5 or more GCSEs at A* - C in 2006, as against 61% of pupils not receiving free school meals.
A factor of material deprivation affecting children’s education would be poor housing. This can affect pupil's achievement both directly and indirectly. It can be directly affected by overcrowding for an example, meaning less room for educational activities, nowhere to do homework or lack of sleep from sharing a room. An indirect example would be a child's health and welfare. Children in crowded homes run a greater risk of accidents. Cold or damp housing can also cause ill health. These problems mean more absences from school.
Another factor would be a pupil's diet and health. Children from poorer homes are more likely to have emotional or behavioral problems. Richard Wilkinson research showed that among 10 year olds, the lower the social class the higher the rate of hyperactivity, anxiety and conduct disorders, which are all likely to have a negative effect on the child's education. Marilyn Howard noted that young people from poorer homes have lower intakes of energy, vitamins and minerals. This would also lead to more absences from school due to illnesses as well as difficulties with concentration in class.
Financial support and the costs of education are also a factor. Lack of financial support means that children from poor families have to do without equipment and miss out on experiences that would enhance their educational achievement. David Bull has referred to this as 'the costs of schooling'. Emily Tanner found that the cost of items such as transport and uniforms play a heavy burden on poor families. This leads to children using cheaper or second hand clothes which may cause them to be bullied by peers. Lack of funds also means that children from low income families have to work which has a negative impact on the schoolwork