Home Archived Research corner Back Research corner 28th November 2014, 12:00am Tes Editorial Share Research corner https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/research-corner-62 Copy Link `Stratified at seven: in-class ability grouping and the relative age effect’ by Campbell, T British Educational Research Journal, 405: 749-771, October 2014 (Wiley)Setting children in ability groups at primary school may exacerbate existing biases towards autumn-born children.That is the assertion of new research from the University of London’s Institute of Education, which used data from more than 5,000 children from England. The data was taken from the Millennium Cohort Study - a long-term research project following the educational progress of about 19,000 children born in the UK in 2000-01.Previous research looked at teachers’ predisposition to classify autumn-born children as more able; this research was designed to build on that by looking at whether this tendency became more pronounced when children were placed into in-class ability groups.Researchers found that ungrouped autumn-born pupils were already more likely to be considered to be “above average” than their summer-born peers. When grouped, there was a significant positive impact on teachers’ perceptions of them. Although grouping had only a minimal effect on teachers’ perception of summer-born students, it was a negative one.Because of this, the study found, there is a larger gap between the perceived ability of autumn- and summer-born pupils when they are placed into in-class ability groups. This, the author says, goes against the government’s view that ability grouping is positive for students. “The policy and practice of in-class ability grouping early in primary school may, in fact, be detrimental to mobility,” she argues.Sarah CunnaneShare your views by tweeting @tesHot off the pressThe Perfect (Ofsted) Science Lesson by John Beasley(Crown House Publishing)ISBN 9781781351307Packed with engaging starters and plenaries, motivational lesson activities and advice on outstanding practice, John Beasley’s book illustrates how science can be the most explosive subject.Pop-up Dinosaur Alphabet by Robert Crowther(Walker Books)ISBN 9781406348644This exquisitely designed book is packed with dinosaur facts and ingenious pop-ups. Early learners can turn each page to consolidate understanding of letters, then lift the flaps to reveal dinosaurs.100 Ideas for Secondary Teachers: outstanding mathematics lessonsby Mike Ollerton(Bloomsbury Education)ISBN 9781408194874Keep a level head in the face of no-notice inspections with these lesson ideas and teaching tips covering everything from algebra and geometry to using domino and dice games. It also includes an exciting study of Fibonacci.For book queries, please email chloe.darracott-cankovic@tesglobal.com Want to keep reading for free? Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters. Register Log in Keep reading for just £1 per month You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get: Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content Exclusive subscriber-only stories Award-winning email newsletters Subscribe now Read more Weekly round-up: Capita loses Sats and GCSE fears Tes Editorial • 18th April 2024 Reception Baseline Assessment: what you need to know Gráinne Hallahan • 3rd April 2024 Weekly round-up: Teacher pay drop and school moves Tes Editorial • 28th March 2024 Weekly round-up: Teacher pay and staff shortages Tes Editorial • 21st March 2024 Recent Most read Most shared MPs to investigate boys’ poorer school performance News 19 April 2024 Teacher recruitment targets not changed in Scotland News 19 April 2024 Put teachers at the heart of education reform Analysis 19 April 2024 DfE: No Progress 8 replacement for next two years News 18 April 2024 CfE: Secondaries ‘starting again’ as pupils lack ‘common knowledge base’ News 16 April 2024 How to get feedback right to create better learners Teaching & Learning 17 April 2024 DfE: No Progress 8 replacement for next two years News 18 April 2024 6 ways MATs can tackle SEND challenges News 18 April 2024 Suspensions up by three-quarters since pandemic News 18 April 2024
