Reassessing 'ability' grouping : improving practice for equity and attainment / Becky Francis, Becky Taylor and Antonina Tereshchenko.

Includeds bibliographical references and index.

'Ability grouping' - what is it and why do we do it? -- The best practice in grouping students study: explaining our methods -- The impact of attainment grouping on pupil self-confidence -- Pupils' experiences of different grouping practices -- The impact of attainment grouping on pedagogy and practice -- Why is good practice in setting so hard to achieve? -- Doing mixed attainment grouping well -- Reflections -- Recommendations.

"Presenting original qualitative and quantitative data from a large-scale empirical research project conducted in British secondary schools, this text analyses the impacts of attainment grouping on pupil outcomes, teacher effectiveness and social equality. Alongside a comprehensive account of existing literature and the international field, data is subject to rigorous conceptual analysis and is discussed in view of wider political debates, pupils' social backgrounds, and the practicalities of classroom practice. The text redresses attainment grouping as an obstacle to raising pupil attainment and offers recommendations for improved practice to maximise pupil outcomes, experiences and equity"-- Provided by publisher.