Considers the British 1988 Education Reform Act's reconceptualization of schooling and the associated process of curriculum reformulation in relation to equal opportunities. The particular focus of this article is sexual and racial inequality. Proposed curriculum reforms in mathematics, science, and English are examined within this context. (IAH)

This study focused on three areas of supply teachers' (N=20) experiences: their background and views about the job; how they negotiated their first meetings with new classes; and their response to inappropriate behavior. The disadvantages of supply teaching cited by these teachers outweighed advantages cited by two to one. (IAH)

Data are presented from an extended case study which focused on the differential power resources available to staff members within a school physical education department in England and on how these resources affected the quality of staff participation in the decision-making process related to curriculum change. (IAH)

Results of a British study indicate that, among potential applicants (N=177), a small demand exists for a proposed science education degree program. Findings suggest that recruitment of science and math teachers may be hampered because the satisfactions provided by teaching are unlike those sought by science and math specialists. (IAH)

Findings are reported from a longitudinal study of first year doctoral students at Reading University. The study examined three major issues: the planning and carrying out of various stages of work during the first year; the learning environment, particularly opportunities for development of collegiality; and supervision. (IAH)

Data is presented on the reactions of 512 secondary girls to a Women's Training Roadshow, a 2-day career convention designed to encourage girls and women to consider nontraditional careers. Findings indicate that while students enjoyed and learned from the convention, the majority remained attached to traditionally female jobs for themselves. (IAH)

In describing several pitfalls associated with research on school and teacher effectiveness, the following aspects of effectiveness research are considered: correlation-causation relationship, controlling for background factors, statistical and practical significance, instrumentation problems, regression effects, measurement of change, nonlinear…

Presents an analysis of the responses of 686 secondary school teachers in England to a questionnaire survey on the subject of their job satisfaction. Areas covered include working conditions, roles and responsibilities, and classroom practices. Implications are drawn for teacher training and school management. (IAH)

This article describes Local Education Authority (LEA) practices in England and Wales, with regard to institutional evaluation during the mid to late 1980s. It considers the various approaches and systems used and particularly looks at issues of information handling, reporting, follow-up, and adviser (inspector) training. (IAH)

Findings are reported from a longitudinal study, involving 8- to 10-year-old students in England, which evaluated and analyzed student writing samples. The writing samples were elicited by tests intended to produce two kinds of writing: a story and a description. (IAH)

The Sheffield Curriculum Initiative (SCI), a partnership between schools, local education authority, university and polytechnic seeks to radically change the curriculum district-wide. Central to SCI is the teacher secondment (sabbatical) program. Teachers spend half of the week in professional development activities, and half in their own schools…

This article reports results of a study investigating variations in secondary pupil-attainment associated with different types of residential communities and educational authorities within Scotland. Variations associated with school selectivity and socioeconomic background were also studied. (IAH)

Using an ethnographic-interpretive research strategy, a study of teacher-student interaction displayed in a secondary physics class suggests student-centered instructional strategies create an environment that enhances self-esteem, responsibility, behavior and academic performance. Examples of study guides, activity sheets and topic overviews are…

A large-scale longitudinal study of the progress of elementary school students, focusing on effects of school membership upon cognitive outcomes, attainment in verbal abilities, and noncognitive outcomes such as attendance, attitudes, behavior, and self-concept, found that school membership is far more influential in these areas than are…

A study of educational choices made by students in England and Wales during their first post-compulsory year of school identified differences between students who stayed in school and and those who joined the Youth Training Scheme (YTS). These differences indicate that YTS does not encourage students to leave school. (CB)