Our investigations into the politics of the Academies Programme in England have generated thinking that draws on data about the conversion process from two projects. We engage with an early City Academy that replaced two "failing" schools, and a recent Academy that replaced a "successful" high school. We deploy Hannah…

Approximately 7 out of 10 pupils in England choose to exercise their right to drop history as a school subject as soon as they are able to do so (at the age of 13 or 14). However, this 30% overall take-up rate conceals massive variations between schools, with over 80% of pupils continuing to study the subject in some schools, and under 5% in…

The review of TLRP's research that is presented in this volume offers manifold aspects that are worth reflecting on. In my contribution, I concentrate on two aspects that are especially interesting from an international perspective or, more precisely, from a German point of view. The first is a general reflection on the education and science…

The linkage between the impact of assessment and compliance with children's rights is a connection, which although seemingly obvious, is nonetheless rarely made, particularly by governments, which, as signatories to the relevant human rights treaties, have the primary responsibility for ensuring that educational practice is compatible with…

This article describes a study conducted at a shared secondary school in Cyprus - that is, a school which co-educates children coming from two conflicting ethnic communities on the island. The study focuses on teachers', students' and parents' perspectives about the struggles to negotiate co-existence in this school. Drawing on a three-month…

The dynamic nature and multiple interpretations of professionalism make any analysis of it as a static, homogenous concept somewhat difficult. Much of the existing body of literature, which explores professionalism from a traditional sociological perspective, is now being challenged by developing concepts of professionalism that support particular…

There is evidence in recent Government policy in England of the emergence of a wider role for schools in relation to the neighbourhoods they serve. In particular, the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal in England sets the work of schools within the context of an overarching regeneration strategy. The study reported here, sponsored by the…

Presented at its launch in 1998 as the quintessential "third way" welfare policy, the English education action zones (EAZ) experiment was one of a number of area-based initiatives in the UK designed to tackle social exclusion in disadvantaged localities. The policy was premised upon the idea that different bodies--public, private, voluntary, and…

Examined how British elementary principals' values were realized in the school environment. Data from online research journals kept by principals over two 4-week periods indicated that government policy of improving school leadership in order to raise standards was seriously compromised by educational market pressures. Many principals reverted to…

Discusses Great Britain's funding of higher education institutions, which is linked to funding student support, identifying factors underpinning the Secretary of State for Education and Employment's establishment of a National Committee of Inquiry; exploring contextual dimensions of those working to influence policy; considering educational…

Sets the current public debate about gender and schooling in England into a historical and a United Kingdom-wide context, addressing the highly politicized context in which educational research on gender has taken place over the past 20 years, discussing the feminization of teaching, and examining attacks on English schools for failing boys as a…

Interviews with parents of British students moving to secondary schools in one district investigated relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and families' activities within school quasi-markets. Relationships were complex and multifaceted. There were strong relationships between both SES and educational level and the degree of family…

Surveys of and interviews with year-12 students in Northern Ireland over 10 years examined the impact of government science education policy by noting student participation in advanced science courses. Overall, the number of boys taking advanced courses decreased and the number of girls increased. Students retained certain stereotyped views of…

This article investigates the repercussions of economic, social, and political change in Hong Kong on its educational practice and policy, presenting four case studies of educational policymaking process and product from different phases of Hong Kong's postwar development and noting the impact of the impending reversion to Chinese sovereignty. (SM)

Presents information from a research project that investigated advantages and disadvantages of the diversity of school management interests in Northern Ireland and the effects of direct rule on framing and implementing educational policy. The effect of direct rule on the power of English and Welsh local education authorities is also discussed. (SM)