ABSTRACT

In this chapter I present some findings on educational inequality, an issue which has been rather neglected in the widespread debate about educational questions during the last decade. I do so from the perspective of a recently completed research project, the main aim of which was to examine changes between the mid-1980s and the mid-1990s in young children’s experiences at school. I focus on the relative attainments of African–Caribbean boys and girls in maths, but the methods I use can be generalized to a variety of educational inequalities. The evidence I present suggests that there is cause for concern about, and certainly the need for further investigation into, the impact on inequality of the major changes introduced by the Education Reform Act 1988.