‘Why are you applying there?’ ‘race’, class and the construction of higher education ‘choice’ in the United Kingdom

Shiner, Michael ORCID: 0000-0001-6540-1882 and Noden, Philip (2014) ‘Why are you applying there?’ ‘race’, class and the construction of higher education ‘choice’ in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 36 (8). pp. 1170-1191. ISSN 0142-5692

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Abstract

Despite entering higher education in good numbers, candidates from some black and minority ethnic groups are concentrated in less prestigious institutions. A similar pattern is evident in candidates' applications, raising important questions about the role of 'self-exclusion'. Statistical analysis confirms that candidates from some minority ethnic groups tend to target lower-ranking institutions, but these differences are almost entirely explained by other variables, particularly academic attainment, type of school attended, number of A-levels taken and subject mix. It follows that some minority ethnic groups appear to be indirectly disadvantaged by patterns of schooling that do not prepare candidates for elite higher education. Similar processes are evident in relation to social class, although candidates from less privileged family backgrounds remain less likely to target high-status institutions even when other variables are taken into account.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.scopus.com/
Additional Information:	© 2014 Taylor & Francis.
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2014 16:08
Last Modified:	14 Apr 2024 07:00
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/56938

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