The human development and capability approach: A counter theory to human capital discourse in promoting low SES students’ agency in education

•Discusses durable problems with human capital discourses in education.•Agency of low SES students is jeopardised by structural constraints.•Demonstrates how neoliberalism is an impediment to just, equitable and accessible education.•Bourdiuesian analysis and the Capability Approach reveal the effects of structural constraints.•These complementary approaches offer insights on how to increase student agency.