The author is the headteacher of a one form entry primary school near London. She describes the improvement journey that brought her school out of the Ofsted category of "special measures" to become "outstanding". Her view is that schools improve most radically when children and staff are encouraged to find a voice to express their learning needs.…

This article draws on findings from two English research projects exploring collaborative reform for schools in difficulty. Initially, the article provides a brief policy overview of some of the key policy drivers of educational reform in England during the past decade. This contextual analysis is used to provide background for the exploration of…

Recent years have seen increased emphasis on the idea of schools working together. However, there is very little research that demonstrates how and when such approaches lead to positive outcomes, particularly in respect to those schools facing challenging circumstances. Reflecting on the evidence from six case studies, this article identifies…

There is mounting evidence to suggest that the examination process is assuming greater importance in young people's lives. Economic change has intensified demand for academic qualifications. An emphasis on viewing young people in terms of outcomes related to future identity and their success or failure within this context involves substantial…

This article reports on a pilot study examining the possible impact of the very different structures of Scottish and Norwegian schools. It compares the situation in Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, where lower secondary classes normally have 12-15 teachers, each for one to three hours, and the Norwegian school, where a team of five or six…

Reducing absences and motivating learning--these are the two aims of the Motivational Strategies development programme at Ramiro Solans School in Zaragoza. Music and other art forms are the motive forces. Three years after its start, its achievements are impressive. (Contains 1 note.)

Noting that research on cognitive development and on values are normally separate, the author shows the connection by closely examining different ways in which teachers relate to students. Modes of discipline based on positional authority, and even force, rather than on an ethical dialogue, not only reduce students' self-esteem but also limit…

There is widespread concern in many US cities about student alienation, dropout and under-achievement in large urban high schools. Chicago, with support from the Gates Foundation and other agencies, has embarked on a major reform involving the establishment of new small schools and the division of larger schools into smaller ones. This article…

This article uses small-scale research based on critical incident analysis to throw light on the importance of the role of the deputy head in primary schools. It suggests that deputies are frequently left alone and exposed to manage potentially very serious situations, and that both aspiring deputies and those new in post need specific training.…

Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. People with autistic spectrum disorders experience difficulties with social interaction, social communication and imagination--known as the "triad of impairments". The mainstream school environment…

Despite increased professional attention to the role of culture in school environments, implications of the construct for student behavior remain underexamined. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, I examine factors that contribute to the overrepresentation of black male students in school exclusion rates from a cultural perspective.…

In the light of the government's Excellence and Enjoyment primary strategy, the current emphasis on well-being arising from Every Child Matters and recent moves by the QCA, Creative Partnerships and OFSTED to promote creative thinking, and cross-curricular and thematic approaches in Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, teacher education is looking again at…

This article describes a change initiative which began in 2002: "Woolwich Reach and Plumstead Pathfinder Action Zones" (WRaPP). WRaPP has involved 17 primary, secondary and nursery schools in a deprived part of Greenwich, South London, and although nationally funded (through the UK Government's Education Action Zones), it has been locally driven.…

This article examines the journey of a secondary school in its attempts to be more responsive to community values. The school had worked hard for many years to gain the trust of the Asian-heritage population, and, after much debate and consultation, it was agreed to teach boys and girls separately in the first three years. The article examines the…

This article presents case studies of political literacy among primary pupils. While researching primary pupils' understanding of "enterprise", the researchers added interviews connecting this concept to the Iraq war. A sample of 10 non-representative Scottish primary schools from seven local education authorities has provided the setting for…