Abstract

This paper focuses on the consequences school has in terms of social cohesion in local urban contexts. More precisely, I discuss the consequences of subjective experience of the educational hierarchies on social relations in neighbourhoods. I show that the perception of the position in educational hierarchies determines the perception of success and educational identities for pupils. In schools with an average position in the hierarchies, pupils have educational identities based on individuality, success and high aspirations. They insist on parental education, school success and work. These perceptions conduct pupils to develop detachment conceptions and practices in their daily life. In this way school has consequences on societal processes such as social cohesion in urban contexts.