3 factors!

Three factors affect pupils’ educational achievement:
Cultural deprivation
Material deprivation
Cultural capital

Write notes on each and explain how they affect pupils' educational achievement

1.cultural deprivation
As its name indicates,cultural deprivation is a lack of culture includes norms,values,attitudes and skills that are necessary for success. It is regarded as one of the reasons of social class which affect the educational achievement by Douglas and Sugarman. I agree with this idea partly. Different social classes have different culture and values on the life. To working-class,most of them don't have enough money to support the family,therefore,the parents care more about jobs,food rather than education. Consequently,children will not be so encouraged to go to school and may think it is more important to worry about getting a part-time job first. However,this society is getting more and more advancing that an increasing number of people realise the importance of education. So,this idea about cultural deprivation is not so correct nowadays.

2.material deprivation
Material deprivation is seen as opposite view as cultural deprivation,which means a lack of money and things that money can buy. In my opinion,this point is of great importance. Among different social classes,the most obvious difference is the income and income is necessary and helpful to get good educational attainment. For instance,high income can provide children with many educational advantages--comfortable room with comfortable desks to work at and adequate reference books. Besides,costs of education are rising like the introduction of tuition fees which may push stress on the family. As a result,children in working-class may feel difficult to continue studying.

3.cultural capital
Cultural capital is defined as culture that can be converted into material rewards such as high salaries and living standards,which is just like "dominant culture" started by the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu in 1997 . To the children born in middle-class or upper-class families,their culture is closer to the culture of school that enables them to succeed easily. In addition,according to Bourdieu,the primary purpose of education is cultural and social reproduction which helps to spread thoughts of dominant culture and reproduce the class system.