Pupils excel when teachers are same race as themselves

PUPILS feel that they perform best when their teachers are the same sex and race as themselves, a US study has found.

Students are more likely to consider going to university when they share these characteristics with their schoolteachers, according to researchers.

Academics from North Carolina State University and the University of Missouri analysed around 3,000 teachers and more than 80,000 pupils in six US states.

They found that pupils whose teachers shared the same racial background as them felt more cared for at school, and more interested in their schoolwork.

Those pupils were also more likely than their peers to say that their teacher explained difficult things clearly.

“Teachers of colour may be particularly well situated to explain new material in a culturally relevant and engaging way,” the researchers said.

The academics also suggest that they “may have only observed the tip of the iceberg with regard to the benefits of demographically similar teachers”.

They added: “For policymakers, this study provides strong support for innovative and bold actions to reduce barriers for entry for more diverse teachers entering the profession, and efforts to improve retention.”

The findings were published in a paper titled The Effects of Teacher Match on Students’ Academic Perceptions and Attitudes.