This book provides a new study of ethnic segregation across English state schools in the period from 2011 to 2017. It examines whether patterns of school-level segregation decreased or increased over the period, how those patterns compare with patterns of residential segregation, whether particular types of schools are associated with greater ethnic separations, and whether socio-economic differences add to the geographies of ethnic segregation. We find that high levels of ethnic segregation do exist between the majority White British and some other ethnic groups such as the Bangladeshi and Pa ... More

This book provides a new study of ethnic segregation across English state schools in the period from 2011 to 2017. It examines whether patterns of school-level segregation decreased or increased over the period, how those patterns compare with patterns of residential segregation, whether particular types of schools are associated with greater ethnic separations, and whether socio-economic differences add to the geographies of ethnic segregation. We find that high levels of ethnic segregation do exist between the majority White British and some other ethnic groups such as the Bangladeshi and Pakistani, more so at the primary than secondary level of schooling, and increased also for the more affluent of the White British. However, there is no compelling evidence that ethnic segregation is increasing – instead, the general trend is towards desegregation and greater ethnic diversity within local authority areas and their schools. Nor is there persuasive evidence that ethnic segregation is exacerbated greatly (at least, not directly) by the present system of school choice because school intakes appear comparable to the characteristics of their surrounding neighbourhoods in their ethnic composition.