The subject matter of this book - what happens in schools, the effects of curriculum change, the reasons why some children are successful and others are not - explains just why the sociology of education is one of the most important areas to achieve political importance. There are five sections to the book covering: Educational Achievement; Educational Provision; The Organization of the School; Roles in the School and Values and Learning. The editor discusses the implications of the material presented (much of which was available for the first time when this book was originally published).

In their appearance, schools often seem to be physically separated from their surroundings, cut off from the neighbouring houses and streets by high walls, by playgrounds or playing fields. Within the school, another world seems to exist, with a life of its own - its own routine, dress, rules and customs - which appears to have little relationship to the day-to-day life of the society outside. Yet despite these signs of separateness, we are becoming increasingly aware that a school's surroundings, the local society in which it is set and whose children it educates, play an important part in determining what actually goes on in the classrooms and the playgrounds. This book looks at some of the factors in the local context of the schools and describes and analyses some of the often complex ways in which the schools interact with them.

Within a single educational system that of England and Wales the nature of schooling available to a child can be dramatically different. Even between residential areas the differences in educational climate can be striking. Apart from differences in the organization of schools and the availability of buildings, teachers and resources, there are also significant ideological variations between local education authorities. This book considers the evidence of such differences, some of the environmental factors (political, social and economic) that may account for their distribution, and the consequences that appear to spring from them.

Originally published in 1980. School-based curriculum development was the dominant form of curriculum development in Britain. Though there were national projects, it was thought that the initiative for change must come from within the schools. Curriculum development arose directly from the needs and enthusiasms of the schools, their pupils and their teachers. Some large schools had undertaken their own programmes while others joined forces, sharing common needs and enjoying common achievements or based effective in-school initiatives on national projects. Given how much things have changed since, this book is enlightening. Case studies: Codsall, Staffordshire; Manor Park, Newcastle; Abraham Moss Centre, Manchester; and Hele's School, Exeter. There are also studies of the Independent Learning in Science Project and in the Nuffield Integrated Science Project.

Originally published in 1980. School-based curriculum development was the dominant form of curriculum development in Britain. Though there were national projects, it was thought that the initiative for change must come from within the schools. Curriculum development arose directly from the needs and enthusiasms of the schools, their pupils and their teachers. Some large schools had undertaken their own programmes while others joined forces, sharing common needs and enjoying common achievements or based effective in-school initiatives on national projects. Given how much things have changed since, this book is enlightening. Case studies: Codsall, Staffordshire; Manor Park, Newcastle; Abraham Moss Centre, Manchester; and Hele's School, Exeter. There are also studies of the Independent Learning in Science Project and in the Nuffield Integrated Science Project.

Making decisions is one of the main activities of the teacher's work. Considered or apparently unconsidered, these decisions significantly affect the lives of all who work in classrooms, both children and the teachers themselves. Originally published in 1979, the aim of this collection of papers was to achieve greater understanding of classroom decision-making and its consequences, to identify and map existing knowledge, and to indicate where it might be augmented. The contributors were researchers and teachers from schools, universities and colleges at the time, and they examine the process of teacher decision-making from sociological, psychological, economic and other perspectives. The book includes a detailed analysis of life in the classroom from a phenomenological perspective, explorations based on micro-economic techniques, and structural perspectives on the role of the teacher in the school. The concluding papers examine the possibilities for social change, given the constraints on the work of the teacher.

Work experience schemes were becoming an ever more central part of the curriculum in secondary schools in the early 1980s; indeed, 'work' had become a new subject in many. Fundamental changes in the nature of work and in its distribution and availability for school leavers made it particularly important that young people had experience of the kinds of work that may have awaited them in the outside world. A wide range of schemes were developed to meet this need, including work study, simulation, link courses and pairing. Yet schools and their teachers found it difficult to obtain information about these schemes and their results. This book, originally published in 1982, solved the problem by bringing together accounts from Britain, Australia, Ireland and the USSR, with an extended editorial introduction which examines both the reasons for providing work experience in schools and the underlying social economic issues.

Within a single educational system that of England and Wales the nature of schooling available to a child can be dramatically different. Even between residential areas the differences in educational climate can be striking. Apart from differences in the organization of schools and the availability of buildings, teachers and resources, there are also significant ideological variations between local education authorities. This book considers the evidence of such differences, some of the environmental factors (political, social and economic) that may account for their distribution, and the consequences that appear to spring from them.

Work experience schemes were becoming an ever more central part of the curriculum in secondary schools in the early 1980s; indeed, 'work' had become a new subject in many. Fundamental changes in the nature of work and in its distribution and availability for school leavers made it particularly important that young people had experience of the kinds of work that may have awaited them in the outside world. A wide range of schemes were developed to meet this need, including work study, simulation, link courses and pairing. Yet schools and their teachers found it difficult to obtain information about these schemes and their results. This book, originally published in 1982, solved the problem by bringing together accounts from Britain, Australia, Ireland and the USSR, with an extended editorial introduction which examines both the reasons for providing work experience in schools and the underlying social economic issues.

Making decisions is one of the main activities of the teacher's work. Considered or apparently unconsidered, these decisions significantly affect the lives of all who work in classrooms, both children and the teachers themselves. Originally published in 1979, the aim of this collection of papers was to achieve greater understanding of classroom decision-making and its consequences, to identify and map existing knowledge, and to indicate where it might be augmented. The contributors were researchers and teachers from schools, universities and colleges at the time, and they examine the process of teacher decision-making from sociological, psychological, economic and other perspectives. The book includes a detailed analysis of life in the classroom from a phenomenological perspective, explorations based on micro-economic techniques, and structural perspectives on the role of the teacher in the school. The concluding papers examine the possibilities for social change, given the constraints on the work of the teacher.

In their appearance, schools often seem to be physically separated from their surroundings, cut off from the neighbouring houses and streets by high walls, by playgrounds or playing fields. Within the school, another world seems to exist, with a life of its own its own routine, dress, rules and customs which appears to have little relationship to the day-to-day life of the society outside. Yet despite these signs of separateness, we are becoming increasingly aware that a school s surroundings, the local society in which it is set and whose children it educates, play an important part in determining what actually goes on in the classrooms and the playgrounds. This book looks at some of the factors in the local context of the schools and describes and analyses some of the often complex ways in which the schools interact with them.

The subject matter of this book what happens in schools, the effects of curriculum change, the reasons why some children are successful and others are not explains just why the sociology of education is one of the most important areas to achieve political importance. There are five sections to the book covering: Educational Achievement; Educational Provision; The Organization of the School; Roles in the School and Values and Learning. The editor discusses the implications of the material presented (much of which was available for the first time when this book was originally published).

Here is an increasingly wide agreement among teachers, researchers, inspectors, advisers and policy-makers that both teaching and research will benefit from being brought closer together. But how can this be achieved? Hard-pressed practitioners cannot be expected to review a constant flow of conference papers, journals and other publications, even if such items were accessible and clearly understood. This unique book synthesizes relevant research findings for the professional practitioner and highlights their implications for the quality of teaching and learning. Whether you are a teacher looking to improve your practice through applying the latest thinking in your subject, or a researcher looking for a concise review of the literature, this book will prove to be a valuable acquisition.