Main menu For students For teachers Explore our subjects Student events & courses

Free Sociology resources

Topics

External Factors

External factors refer to the factors outside of the school which can negatively influence a pupil’s achievements. For example, material or cultural deprivation can lead to underachievement. Pupils might have insufficient resources or spaces to work or else they might seek immediate gratification because of their habitus or cultural norms of their social class. This contrasts with internal factors such as labelling or other processes or relationships within school.