The process of education and its effects oh the least academically successful pupils in the secondary school

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken in order to examine the effect that the process of secondary education can shown to have on the academically less successful pupil in the secondary school. The features of the process of education which were selected for investigation were firstly the organisational structure of the secondary school and secondly, the curriculum programme which it offers. The first part, of this investigation was conducted by means of a literature search into the two features outlined above. A literature search was also conducted into previous research evidence concerned with the effect that the process of schooling, has on the least academically successful pupil. An analysis of the main features of the literature search indicated that there are five main areas of importance. These are the pattern of authority and control in the school, the organisation of teaching groups, the size of the school, the equality of opportunity for all pupils and the curriculum and system of examinations. The small scale study which was undertaken in the second part of this investigation took into account the areas of importance outlined above. This was effected by using instruments developed by Finlayson and his associates (1970), which showed the pupils questioned to indicate their feelings about both the social climate and the organisational features of the school, and also by the use of a questionnaire developed internally in the school for the purpose of this study. The results obtained from the instruments drawn up by Finlayson and his associates indicated generally negative views amongst the target group. These indications can he contrasted to some degree with those obtained from the questionnaire which WAS developed internally„This small scale study also indicated that the least academically successful pupils clearly discriminated between those members of staff whom they felt were favourably disposed and supportive towards then and those who were not. This study further indicated that the pupils reacted towards members of staff according to these judgements