The Making of a Left-Behind Class: Educational Stratification, Meritocracy and Widening Participation

by Fred Powell, Margaret Scanlon, Pat Leahy, Hilary Jenkinson, Olive Byrne

Overview

Despite the high aspirations of young people from disadvantaged communities, they face barriers that are frustrating the realisation of their educational ambitions.

This book analyses the ‘left-behind’ phenomenon and shows how education has become the new divide in Western society. It explains how denied educational equality and frustrated opportunity are undermining social cohesion and what we can do about it. It challenges meritocratic thinking and the efficacy of widening participation as a policy for social inclusion.

Combining analysis of educational disadvantage at an international level and among Travelling communities with empirical data derived from fieldwork with parents, teachers and students in the European Union (Ireland), this book offers fresh thinking and new hope in relation to young people left behind in the opportunity structure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447367956
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	04/15/2025
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	214
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Fred Powell served as Professor of Social Policy and founding Head of the School of Applied Social Studies at UniversityCollege Cork for 25 years, Dean of Social Science and latterly Student Ombudsman.

Margaret Scanlon is Research Coordinator for the Institute of Social Science in the 21st Century at UniversityCollege Cork.

Hilary Jenkinson is Lecturer in the School of Applied Social Studies at UniversityCollege Cork.

Patrick Leahy is Lecturer in the School of Applied Social Studies and Director of Postgraduate Youth Studies at UniversityCollege Cork.

Olive Byrne is Head of Access at UniversityCollege Cork.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Aristotle’s Curse

2. The Cultural Politics of Educational Stratification

3. Public Education, Universityies and Widening Participation

4. The Psycho-Politics of Meritocracy: IQ+ Effort=Merit?

5. Snakes and Ladders: Aspirations and Barriers

6. Social Class and Parental Attitudes Towards Education and Career Choices

7. Structural Racism and Traveller Education

8. Conclusion: Global Lessons

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A rich, broad-ranging and perceptive survey of different dimensions of educational disadvantage, contesting the concept itself and placing it in a wider social and cultural context, both theoretically and empirically." Peadar Kirby, Professor Emeritus, University of Limerick

“This is a beautifully written, powerfully engaging book that everyone concerned with the state of education should read. It reveals how educational systems create left-behind classes with dire consequences for democracy across the globe.” Diane Reay, University of Cambridge

Editorial Reviews

"A rich, broad-ranging and perceptive survey of different dimensions of educational disadvantage, contesting the concept itself and placing it in a wider social and cultural context, both theoretically and empirically." Peadar Kirby, Professor Emeritus, University of Limerick

“This is a beautifully written, powerfully engaging book that everyone concerned with the state of education should read. It reveals how educational systems create left-behind classes with dire consequences for democracy across the globe.” Diane Reay, University of Cambridge

From the Publisher