Schools Making A Difference - Softcover

Thrupp, .

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0335202128 ISBN 13: 9780335202126

Publisher: Open University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Does an effective school really come about through the actions of teachers and school leaders, or does it also require an advantaged student intake? This question reflects a longstanding research debate about whether or not the social class mix of a school's student intake has much effect on individual achievement. Schools Making a Difference: Let's Be Realistic! presents new evidence which suggests that school mix is likely to be important because of the way many school processes are deeply influenced by student intake characteristics. Low socioeconomic schools face numerous intake-related constraints which make them highly resistant to improvement efforts. By suggesting that 'failing' schools are often overwhelmed rather than ineffective, this book provides a sympathetic reappraisal of the performance of teachers and school leaders in such schools. It also offers a critical response to the often unrealistic claims of the school effectiveness and school improvement movement and a fresh critique of market reforms in education.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Martin Thrupp lectures in the sociology of education and education policy at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. His previous research and writing has been in the areas of social class and education, school markets and school accountability. He is joint editor of the New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies.

Edition details

• Publisher: Open University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0335202128
• ISBN 13: 9780335202126
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 238