Sharon Gewirtz examines class differences in parental choice in selection of secondary schools.
Studied 14 london schools, based on interviews with teachers and parents, and on secondary data like school documents. She identifies 3 different types of parents: priviliged school choosers, disconnected choosers and semi-skilled choosers.
Priviliged school choosers - Mainly professional middle class parents who used their economic and cultural capital to gain edicational capital for their children. These parents understood the application process, understood importance of schools and they saw the choosing of the school as a vital part of their child's future. They could also afford to send their child to better schools, eg. travle costs, or moving house.
Disconnected choosers - Working class parents, whose choices are restricted by lack of economic and cultural capital. They found it difficult to understand the admissions process, had major restrictions on factors such as travel costs.
Semi skilled choosers - Mainly working class, but ambitious for their children. Lacked knowledge about admissions procedure, and found difficiult to understand.
All in all, she concludes that although the education market gives everyone greater choice,, those who possess cultural and economic capital have more choice than others.
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