Explores the coverage and effectiveness of child protection training within school-centered teacher training courses in England in the aftermath of the new requirements for these courses. Concludes with a call for a full evaluation of the effectiveness of child protection training within teacher training. (CMK)

Examines teachers' use of and students' reactions to cooperative learning, and the quality of the group cooperation from a sample of Dutch primary schools. Reports that students' social skills, on-task behavior, and self-esteem improved, while students reported a positive attitude toward cooperative learning. Includes references. (CMK)

Presents a study of South Australian primary school teachers and 9-12 year old disadvantaged students. Examines what made the difference between disadvantaged students who succeed and disadvantaged students who do not succeed or do well. Discusses the respondents' thoughts on the role of the family, community, and school. (CMK)

Focuses on two research studies: (1) a 10-year-long investigation of two Australian secondary schools that became co-educational secondary schools over a two-year period; and (2) a two-year investigation of an English co-educational secondary school where single-sex mathematics classes were introduced for five-school terms and then mixed-sex…

Discusses the policy context of the examination results of secondary schools published by the quality daily national press in England. Addresses the published results, how they are used by parents making preferences for secondary schools, and the consequences of their publication. (CMK)

Focuses on the role of play in the reception class by examining the attitudes and perceptions of play in 10 primary schools in England. Reports that there is a clear distinction between the rhetoric and reality of play. Includes references. (CMK)

Explores evidence of English student interest and achievement in their chosen A-level subjects. Focuses on economics among ten major A-level subjects. Concludes that students may be discouraged to study A-level economics by severe grading at the mid-point of A-level study. Includes references. (CMK)

Analyzes discussions with teachers (n=26) of Key Stage 2 classes (ages 7-11) during interviews on mathematical tasks based on use of pattern. Finds that pattern was used frequently, but that some teachers had a wider and more sophisticated view of pattern than others. Includes references and an appendix. (CMK)

Outlines recent reforms of initial teacher training in France aimed at emphasising classroom practice issues, such as teaching/learning strategies and motivating reluctant students. Examines the perceptions of some French trainee teachers, including how prepared they felt and the support they received while on placement. (CMK)

Presents a study of cognitive style and motor skill performance on a battery of tasks and sports performance. Suggests four skills factors from the motor skills subsample (n=69), specifically bodily movement, interactive skills, mechanical skills, and aiming. Reveals a significant effect of style for tennis from the sports performance subsample…

Evaluates the extent to which English parents send their children to out-of-catchment schools and the patterns of students across catchment boundaries. Uses a form of geographic information system as the principal research tool. Reveals that over one third of year seven students attend schools other than their catchment comprehensive. (CMK)

Explores children's experiences as they are going through the secondary school choice process in two inner London primary schools. Reveals that there remains a strong pattern of class-related orientation to choice despite individual and family differences. Finds that the children's accounts demonstrate a distinction between making and getting a…

Reports on a test of a psychological model of teacher-parent communication in primary schools in Hong Kong (China). Shows that teacher commitment and efficacy in working with parents have predictive power for teacher intentions; while teacher intentions, along with commitment, predict the time teachers spend communicating with parents. Includes…

Describes a small-scale survey of the opinions and attitudes of experienced art department heads in comprehensive British schools on the National Curriculum Art using a repertory grid technique. Indicates a range of dissatisfaction in some areas to overall satisfaction of the mandatory framework. (CMK)

Reports the view and perceptions of approximately 1,000 Welsh and English students in their final two years of compulsory schooling focusing on self-efficacy, goal orientation and motivation, stress, and interpersonal skills. Finds that most students were positive about their school, their futures, and their perceived control of their life. (CMK)