books – education theory
Improving
School Effectiveness
Macbeath & Mortimore (Ed)
Open University
Press £17.99 This book sets out to answer questions about
improving school effectiveness by examining what we have learned from research
over the past 30 years. It explores the messages for schools, teachers, parents
and children, what we can say about how schools improve and what we want from
the schools of the future.
Via a series of individual chapters with contributions
from across Britain, the book provides a useful picture of what school effectiveness
looks like, how it can be measured and what it means for all stakeholders.
The book provides an interesting combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches
to school improvement and it is heartening to find notions of attitude and ethos
in a school given powerful weighting as agents for change and advancement in school.
Macbeath and Mortimore make a useful contribution to this process and their work
would be a useful reference book in any staff library. Their work will be of interest
to senior managers, policy developers and anyone who is looking to contribute
to the school improvement debate. (Reviewed by Chris Leach) Leadership
Examined
by Colin McCall and Hugh Lawlor
The Stationery Office This
book, part of a series, is aimed at teachers who are already members of the leadership
group or wish to become so. It aims to bring together up to date views on educational
issues connected with leadership and management. It starts by looking at some
of the current challenges facing teachers in the education system and uses these
to focus on key areas of leadership, such as leadership styles; providing a climate
for leadership across the whole school and how to use leadership to encourage
creativity in colleagues to lead to school improvement. It
is well written and based on up to date research. The material is presented in
an interesting way and is easily accessible. Each chapter provides good background
information on the topic it covers as well as practical activities to be carried
out in school. As a new Deputy Head I found this book useful, thought provoking
and something that I will make use of in the future. (Reviewed by Darren Nickerson)
Teaching Values & Citizenship Across The Curriculum
by Dr Richard
Bailey
Kogan Page £15.99
This is a thorough, scholarly
guide to some of the biggest issues facing teachers at the present time and will
be of use to both primary and secondary school practitioners. Dr Bailey brings
together authoritative articles by experts in a number of relevant areas which
examine the background to the ongoing debate and relevant legislation, as well
as suggesting practical ways of developing teaching strategies. The
first part of Teaching Values & Citizenship provides teachers with some useful
historical background and discusses intelligently the Dfee's Programmes of Study
for Citizenship at Key Stages 3 and 4. Part two contains nine chapters, each addressing
a different subject and how citizenship and values education can be, and in many
cases already is, incorporated into classroom practice. Eve
Bearne's chapter on English is typically impressive, particularly when she discusses
the choice of texts used in the English classroom and the idea of being “culturally
courteous”. The final part contains three further chapters on non subject-specific
areas; spiritual education, cultural diversity and further education. A valuable
resource for teachers in all sectors of education. (Reviewed by James Hanley)
School Inspection (A teacher's guide to preparing, surviving and evaluating
Ofsted inspection)
by Elizabeth Holmes
The Stationary
Office (Handbook For Teachers Series)
School Inspection is an extremely useful
guide for all teachers facing an Ofsted inspection. It answers many important
questions about preparation for inspection, the logistics of inspection itself
and what is expected of schools and teachers after the event. The text is interspersed
with useful tables, focus boxes, thought-provoking quotations and notes for Headteachers.
The sections on the effect of an inspection on the individual and dealing with
the inevitable stresses are particularly useful. Elizabeth
Holmes discusses adult bullying, the knock-on effect on those teachers live with,
anxiety and panic attacks, the importance of sleep, and ways of boosting morale.
All the advice given is practical and the inclusion of real examples of how teachers
have dealt with problems are valuable and uplifting. What is particularly impressive
about this well-researched, user-friendly handbook is the way that Elizabeth Holmes
manages to put the whole inspection process into political and personal perspective.
(Reviewed by James Hanley)
Mentoring in schools –
A Handbook of Good Practice
by Sarah Fletcher
Kogan Page £16.99
This
comprehensive guide to mentoring will be an invaluable resource to all colleagues
involved in the training of teachers. The contents of the book are informed by
the author's experiences as a secondary school teacher, as well as by her teaching
and mentoring work at Bath University. The book offers practical advice and guidance
on many aspects of mentoring. Although the main focus is on guiding teachers as
they work with pre-service and newly-qualified teachers, mentoring is also seen
in its wider context as a process of reflection, change and growth.
There
is no doubting Sarah Fletcher's belief in the potential benefits for both mentor
and trainee. However, whilst much of the book focuses on this
important and ever-changing relationship, she also offers useful guidance on other,
less well-documented aspects of initial teacher training, such as working within
a SCITT (School-centred initial teacher training) consortium, preparing the Career
Entry Profile and addressing the development needs of teachers in their first
year of teaching. The author encourages the reader to view
her book as an interactive reference work, which invites both reflection and active
response. In this respect the book is a useful "spring-board" for both
new and experienced mentors. One omission from the book is the sensitive issue
of dealing with trainees who are falling short of the QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
standards. Guidance on ways to support students in difficulty would have been
helpful. Nonetheless, this is a well-written, informative and reflective guide
to the complex and challenge process of mentoring. (Reviewed by Alison Shakespeare) A
Handbook for Headteachers
by Marilyn Nathan
Kogan Page £22.95 Having
recently been appointed to the post of Headteacher, I was delighted when this
book dropped onto the mat and the request came for a review. I felt that reading
it would provide an opportunity to reflect upon my first three months of headship
and would offer insights into the problems that I am currently facing.
This
assumption was somewhat misguided. Nathan is attempting to
write a handbook for all Headteachers, but the job is so diverse and context dependent.
For me, in a small village primary school with less than 70 pupils, much of the
support offered did not apply. Having said this, the case study approach that
the author employs will mean that the book becomes a regularly thumbed tome on
my bookcase. Each case is provided with reflective points for discussion or thought
and in themselves these provide a useful tool for self-analysis. The text is both
readable and clear with many illustrations provided by way of diagrams to support
the reader. As a generalist book to gain a view and vision
on Headship and its demands it certainly is useful and readers in the ‘average’
primary or secondary will find its content directly relevant. Those working in
smaller or more specialist environments may find some irrelevancies. Certainly
a useful introduction. (Reviewed by Sean Cornish) Tackling
Disaffection and Social Exclusion
ed. Annette Hayton
Kogan Page £19.99
This book is a collection of essays, a critical debate exploring the reasons for
disaffection and exclusion both in 14-plus schools and in Higher Education. It
offers recommendations for educational reform to both head teachers and government.
It is structured in three parts: part one explores historical and European perspectives;
part two focuses on suggestions for developing educational policy and part three
looks at factors such as gender, race, special needs and class. ”Too
many youngsters leave school without a single qualification to their name”,
said David Blunkett in 1998. The book analyses why New Labour’s educational
policy of inclusion has encountered so many problems, not least because heads
are under pressure to reduce expulsions while simultaneously raising examination
results for the league tables. It is a highly academic book densely written with
references to research and case studies. The most interesting and topical essay
analyses gender and class differences at GCSE, A Level and Degree Level, choices
of subjects and careers. Since the book was published the gap between girls and
boys has further widened. (Reviewed by Nicky Alper)
School Leadership
– National & International Perspectives
Edited by John Dunford,
Richard Fawcett & David Bennett
Kogan Page (London) in collaboration with
The Times Educational Supplement £18.99 This is a compelling
and informative read for current or aspiring headteachers and anyone else interested
in successful school leadership. It is generally agreed that effective leadership
is one of the most important factors in the success of any school. This book attempts
to answer the question: "What is successful leadership?" It does this
by offering 14 widely varying and recent examples of school management spanning
seven countries. Each is a factual account written by the
school leader concerned.
Scenarios range from a small village primary school
near Durham in the north of England to a vast 3000 student high school in Colorado,
USA. Each contribution begins with a geographical and socio-economic profile of
the establishment together with an outline of the problems encountered. Then follows
an account of how each individual approached these managerial challenges. The
book clearly shows that, just as all educational establishments are different,
all styles of leadership are unique. Even so, plenty of excellent advice and food
for thought can be gleaned from this very worthwhile compilation. (Reviewed by
Geoffrey Collins) 2000 Tips for Teachers
ed. by
Nick Packard and Phil Race
Kogan Page £22.50 The
book contains 2000 useful suggestions or tips for teachers. It is aimed at primary,
secondary and Further Education teachers, aiding them to manage their time and
resources effectively with practical sections on marking, assessment and lesson
planning with strategies for differentiation. Interpersonal skills are also addressed:
ways of communicating well with colleagues and coping with stress. One section
particularly focuses on methods for fulfilling ICT National Curriculum requirements
at all key stages. It also has a chapter for SENCOS, containing ideas for effectively
dealing with pupils with learning and behavioural difficulties. The
presentation is excellent with a good simple index and clear headings. All suggestions
are in short and concise bullet points with bold opening sentences. It is designed
for use as a comprehensive reference book; the authors have collated suggestions
from experienced practising teachers at the chalk/white board face. A must for
all staff rooms! (Reviewed by Nicky Alper) | 
