Fuelled by social equity concerns, there have been vigorous debates on the appropriateness of certain non-state actors, particularly those with commercial and entrepreneurial motives, to meet universal education goals. There are further questions on the relative effectiveness of government and private schooling in delivering good learning outcomes for all. Within this debate, several empirical questions abound. Do students from poorer backgrounds achieve as well in private schools as their advantaged peers? What are the relative out-of-pocket costs of accessing private schooling compared to government schooling? Is fee-paying non-state provision 'affordable' to the poorest households? What is the nature of the education market at different levels? What are the relationships between different non-state actors and the state, and how should they conduct themselves? The chapters in this volume present new empirical evidence and conduct critical analysis on some of these questions. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Oxford Review of Education.

First published in 1989, Private Schools in Ten Countries provides a much needed comparative study, examining private schooling in England and Wales, Scotland, the USA, Canada, Australia, France, West Germany, the Netherlands and Japan. The authors, all experts in their field, describe the nature and extent of private schooling in an historical, economic, and social context. They discuss government policy and assess the available evidence on the relationship between attendance at a public school and the maintenance of inequalities in that society. Unique in its discussion of private schooling in a range of countries this book will enable educationists, politicians and policy makers to look beyond the confines of their own country and to give constructive consideration to the variety of ways in which education can be provided and funded

This collection of specially commissioned articles exposes the practical and personal influences on the process of doing sociology of education. All of the authors have been involved in conducting well know major research projects, and discuss here the pitfalls and problems, conflicts and compromises that went into doing their particular research. A particular feature of the book is that a wide variety of types of research in the sociology of education is covered. The range is from small-scale ethnographic case studies to large-scale postal questionnaire sample surveys and includes studies based on interviews, observation and questionnaires. There are examples of longitudinal work in case studies and in surveys. The collection also includes discussions of action research, the development and influence of theory, and the relationship between research and policy.

Britain's public (that is, its major independent) schools have a conspicuous role in the country's social system, and as a result are the subject of a long-standing political debate. The discussion is generally founded on a stereotyped image of what these school may have been like in the 1950s - this books shows how they were in the late 1980s. It is based on fieldwork in two major public boarding schools which the author conducted over an extended period, and draws on interviews, observation and documentary sources to establish a picture of what public school life is actually like for pupils and staff. Since the schools were predominantly male preserves, the major part of the book describes the social world and experiences of boys and school-masters. An important section of the book, however, discusses the introduction of girl pupils, the experiences of female teachers and the way schoolmasters' wives tend to be drawn into their husbands' work. Geoffrey Walford's conclusions about life in public schools differ considerably from traditional expectations. At the same time he asks whether there really has been a 'public school revolution'. His book makes an important contribution to our knowledge of public schools, to debates in the sociology of education and to the issues of abolishing or extending the independent sector.

Can privilege be bought? Arguments have raged over whether private education in the UK is 'the cement in the wall' dividing British society, or whether parental choice is, as has also been argued 'a key component of a free society'. The author here describes the traditional private sector schools, paying attention to the ways in which parents can purchase privilege for their children through attendance at such schools. He argues that the privatized system is kept under tight control if a growth in social and educational inequality and a deepening of social class and ethnic group division is to be avoided. The book is unique in combining an account of private schools in Britain with an examination of the process of privatization.

This volume explores Durkheim's place in modern educational thought at three different levels:
* Durkheim's ideas on education are analyzed and placed in the context of modern society
* current educational issues are explored using a Durkheimian framework
* Durkheim's thought is related to that of modern educational theorists to reveal his enduring influence
In discussing Durkheim's modern relevance, the contributors stress his desire to integrate the practical and theoretical aspects of education. They identify particular pertinence in his focus upon the moral base of education and his insistence upon the importance of the social and society.

eBook available with sample pages: 020302205X

Originally published in 1987 Restructuring Universities uses Aston University as a case study of the internal restructuring taking place in universities. Aston lost one third of its funding in 1981 and was told to reduce its student numbers by one fifth within three years. The university has a balanced financial budget, well oversubscribed courses, and the average A level scores of entrants are over the national average in all subjects taught. The books looks at the ways in which the university dealt with rapid change, looking particularly at the decision making processes within the university and the ways in which internal power and politics influenced decisions made. Previous models of decision making are discussed and a new political model outlined. The book provides a useful and informed analysis of the context, politics and management of change in the university system.

Originally published in 1987 Restructuring Universities uses Aston University as a case study of the internal restructuring taking place in universities. Aston lost one third of its funding in 1981 and was told to reduce its student numbers by one fifth within three years. The university has a balanced financial budget, well oversubscribed courses, and the average A level scores of entrants are over the national average in all subjects taught. The books looks at the ways in which the university dealt with rapid change, looking particularly at the decision making processes within the university and the ways in which internal power and politics influenced decisions made. Previous models of decision making are discussed and a new political model outlined. The book provides a useful and informed analysis of the context, politics and management of change in the university system.

First published in 1984, British Public Schools is a collection of empirically based articles written by sociologists of education who have conducted research into public schools. Studies are presented on why parents sent their children to public schools, on the experiences of pupils and teachers, on aspirations and attitudes of pupils towards higher education, on the increasing emphasis of schools on examination successes, and on the relationships between public school education and educational and occupational successes. This book is an essential read for scholars and researchers of sociology of education and education.

This book brings together key articles that trace the development of British education policy since 1975 and provides a valuable route map to developments within education policy during this period. It includes twenty-six seminal articles from the Oxford Review of Education written by many of the leading authors in the field and covering issues and topics with a wide significance beyond Britain. In one, easy-to-access place, this authoritative reference book provides a collection of articles that have made an important impact on policy studies and cover a broad range of significant policy issues, including: equality in education school effectiveness special educational needs school choice fourteen to nineteen education the structure of the educational system. The book has been compiled by the current editors of the journal to show the development of the field, and their specially written introduction contextualises the selection and introduces students to the main issues and current thinking in the field.

First published in 1989, Private Schools in Ten Countries provides a much needed comparative study, examining private schooling in England and Wales, Scotland, the USA, Canada, Australia, France, West Germany, the Netherlands and Japan. The authors, all experts in their field, describe the nature and extent of private schooling in an historical, economic, and social context. They discuss government policy and assess the available evidence on the relationship between attendance at a public school and the maintenance of inequalities in that society. Unique in its discussion of private schooling in a range of countries this book will enable educationists, politicians and policy makers to look beyond the confines of their own country and to give constructive consideration to the variety of ways in which education can be provided and funded

Durkeim's book on suicide, first published in 1897, is widely regarded as a classic text, and is essential reading for any student of Durkheim's thought and sociological method. This book examines the continuing importance of Durkheim's methodology. The wide-ranging chapters cover such issues as the use of statistics, explanation of suicide, anomie and religion and the morality of suicide. It will be of vital interest to any serious scholar of Durkheim's thought and to the sociologist looking for a fresh methodological perspective.

Fuelled by social equity concerns, there have been vigorous debates on the appropriateness of certain non-state actors, particularly those with commercial and entrepreneurial motives, to meet universal education goals. There are further questions on the relative effectiveness of government and private schooling in delivering good learning outcomes for all. Within this debate, several empirical questions abound. Do students from poorer backgrounds achieve as well in private schools as their advantaged peers? What are the relative out-of-pocket costs of accessing private schooling compared to government schooling? Is fee-paying non-state provision 'affordable' to the poorest households? What is the nature of the education market at different levels? What are the relationships between different non-state actors and the state, and how should they conduct themselves? The chapters in this volume present new empirical evidence and conduct critical analysis on some of these questions. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Oxford Review of Education.

This book presents a valuable and authoritative evaluation of the real impact Labour's two terms have had on the British education system.

On the 1st May 1997 the British electorate witnessed a watershed moment. After an eighteen year Conservative rule, a New Labour government took office. When asked what his top three priorities were for the first term, Tony Blair stated that they would be 'education, education, education.' This book questions the extent to which the policy has met the rhetoric; examining Labour's education policy, practice and achievements during Blair's two terms in office.

This selection of writings by highly respected academics in this field charts and evaluates the effects of policy changes on the various sectors of the educational system and on the major indicators of inequality.

This book was previously published as a special issue of the Oxford Review of Education.

This title was first published in 2000: This is an examination of the sponsored grant-maintained schools initiative. These schools were an attempt to increase the diversity of schools within the state-maintained sector so families would have a greater choice when selecting the most desirable school for their children. Thus allowing schools to be run by religious and ethnic minority groups. The book considers and analyzes the political nature of the policy formulation and implementation. It examines the way the 1993 Education Act came to be formulated and follows its path within the changing social, economic and political context of the years 1993 to 1998. The text examines the background to the applications for funding from religious minority and other groups and discusses the implications of such a changes in funding policy in the context of the 1998 School Standard and Framework Act.

The last thirty years have seen unprecedented change in education. A field that used to be a backwater in terms of government policy has now become a central - and high-profile - priority in many countries around the world.
This book brings together key articles that trace the development of British education policy since 1975 and provides a valuable route map to developments within education policy during this period. It includes 26 seminal articles from the journal Oxford Review of Education, written by many of the leading authors in the field, and covering issues and topics with a wide significance beyond Britain.
In one, easy-to-access place, this authoritative reference book provides a collection of articles that have made an important impact on policy studies and cover a broad range of significant policy issues, including:
- equality in education
- school effectiveness
- special educational needs
- school choice
- 14 to 19 education
- the structure of the educational system.
The book has been compiled by the current editors of the journal to show the development of the field, and their specially written Introduction contextualizes the selection and introduces students to the main issues and current thinking in the field.

This book presents a valuable and authoritative evaluation of the real impact Laboura (TM)s two terms have had on the British education system.

On the 1st May 1997 the British electorate witnessed a watershed moment. After an eighteen year Conservative rule, a New Labour government took office. When asked what his top three priorities were for the first term, Tony Blair stated that they would be a ~education, education, education.a (TM) This book questions the extent to which the policy has met the rhetoric; examining Laboura (TM)s education policy, practice and achievements during Blaira (TM)s two terms in office.

This selection of writings by highly respected academics in this field charts and evaluates the effects of policy changes on the various sectors of the educational system and on the major indicators of inequality.

This book was previously published as a special issue of the Oxford Review of Education.

British private schools are a continuing topic of fascination for many. In particular, the leading so-called public schools have long been subjected both to criticism for their elitism and praise for their academic success. Traditionally, Conservative governments have strongly supported the private sector through special funding such as the Assisted Places Scheme, while Labour governments have reduced the private sector's support from the state and threatened to abolish it. However, the present new Labour government has reversed Labour's former oppostion to private schools and sought co-operation between the two sectors. This has led to an increasing interest in the realities of the private schools; and this book brings together the best of recently conducted research on the various aspects of private schooling, through a series of specially commissioned, previously unpublished essays.

This title was first published in 2000: This is an examination of the sponsored grant-maintained schools initiative. These schools were an attempt to increase the diversity of schools within the state-maintained sector so families would have a greater choice when selecting the most desirable school for their children. Thus allowing schools to be run by religious and ethnic minority groups. The book considers and analyzes the political nature of the policy formulation and implementation. It examines the way the 1993 Education Act came to be formulated and follows its path within the changing social, economic and political context of the years 1993 to 1998. The text examines the background to the applications for funding from religious minority and other groups and discusses the implications of such a changes in funding policy in the context of the 1998 School Standard and Framework Act.

Academies were introduced by Labour in 2000 and first opened their doors in 2002, but during Labour's time in power the nature of the Academies changed. At first they were designed to replace existing failing schools but, by 2004, the expectation had widened to provide for entirely new schools where there was a demand for new places. From 2010, under the coalition government, two new types of Academy were introduced. While the original Academies were based on the idea of closing poor schools and replacing them by dramatically redesigned and restructured ones, the 2010 Academies Act allowed existing highly successful state-maintained schools to apply to become Academies as well. Further, while Labour had restricted Academy status to secondary schools, the Coalition extended it to primary and special schools. The result is that there has been a dramatic increase in the number and diversity of Academies. In addition to this, the 2010 Act introduced Free Schools, wherein groups of parents, teachers, or other sponsors can apply to start their own state-maintained, but officially 'independent', schools. These schools can either be completely new or the result of existing private schools applying to become state-maintained. The results of these changes remain under-researched. This book puts forward new research that examines the history and nature of Academies and Free Schools, the processes by which they have come into existence, and their effects in terms of social justice. The contributors do not all speak with one voice, but rather present a diversity of views on these important topics. Included in the collection are the results of research on pupil outcomes and socio-economic segregation; issues of identity and ethos in church academies; the problems of establishing free schools; the history of policy on Academies; and a comparison between Swedish independent schools and Academies and Free Schools. This book was originally published as a special issue of Research Papers in Education.

Durkeim's book on suicide, first published in 1897 is widely regarded as a classic text, and is essential reading for any student of Durkheim's thought and sociological method. This book examines the continuing importance of Durkheim's methodology. The wide-ranging chapters cover such issues as the use of statistics, explanation of suicide, anomie and religion and the morality of suicide. This book will be of vital interest to any serious scholar of Durkheim's thought and to the sociologist looking for a fresh methodological perspective.

eBook available with sample pages: 020345927X

This book brings together semi-autobiographical accounts from major educationalists about their influential research, focusing on the practical and personal aspects of the research process. The collection reflects the great changes that have occurred within education and educational research since the 1980s, and deals with the issues and situations of the late 1990s. It includes accounts that cover the various stages of the research process, a sampling of topics, the diversity of methodologies used in educational research and a range of theoretical perspectives. There is coverage of qualitative and quantitative methodologies and of large and small scale research. Also discussed are: ESRC program research, contract research and theoretical research.

This book brings together semi-autobiographical accounts from major educationalists about their influential research, focusing on the practical and personal aspects of the research process. The collection reflects the great changes that have occurred within education and educational research since the 1980s, and deals with the issues and situations of the late 1990s. It includes accounts that cover the various stages of the research process, a sampling of topics, the diversity of methodologies used in educational research and a range of theoretical perspectives. There is coverage of qualitative and quantitative methodologies and of large and small scale research. Also discussed are: ESRC program research, contract research and theoretical research.

Examines the ideals which lay behind the development of comprehensive schools. Written by 14 British educationalists, this text considers the evidence and suggests how further progress might be made within the moral framework of secondary education for all, irrespective of background or ability. The text includes an afterword by the Rt Hon John Prescott, MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

The United Kingdom General Election on 1st May 1997 gave a landslide victory to a re-vitalised Labour Party. Tony Blair became Prime Minister with a huge Commons majority of 179 over all other parties. Such a majority meant that extensive changes of policy could be implemented with little effective opposition. During the election campaign Tony Blair had repeatedly claimed that the top three priorities of a New Labour government would be 'education, education, education' , and on page two of the Labour Party's election manifesto a smiling Blair is seen with Nelson Mandela - the unacknowledged originator of the oratorical education triplet. Following a third Election victory in 2005 and after over ten years as Prime Minister, Blair finally stepped down to Gordon Brown in mid-2007, but only after a promotional 'final tour' that lasted several months. Towards the end, Blair devoted considerable efforts to try to ensure that his legacy would be positive and that he would be remembered for more than his role in the Iraq war. But what is his legacy in the field of education? This book brings together the assessments of key educational researchers who have been centrally involved with both the critique and implementation of various policy developments. It is now time to make a solid academic evaluation of his influence on education. This book is timely, and relates directly to the central policy themes of the last decade. It considers the relationships between theory and practice and examines the nature of policy and politics. Each contribution will review empirical data and policy changes relating to Blair's period as Prime Minister and will make an assessment of the enduring effects of changes in policy. Each will assess the long-term and lasting effects as well as the shorter-term responses. This book was published as a special issue of the Oxford Review of Education.