Provides a narrative account of the development of a solutions-focused approach to school improvement. Describes the process whereby an urban primary school harnessed the collective energies of all staff (teachers and support staff) to bring about improvement, and considers the role of democratic leadership in reconceptualizing the school as a…

Examines Education Action Zone (EAZ) policy as a basis for the development of an analytic framework for investigating contemporary forms of leadership and management within schools in urban and challenging contexts. Discussion explores three paired themes: "Networking and experimentation,""partnership and stakeholder…

Tests a model that explains why school districts choose to enact sex-related education and health programs using information from a 1992 survey by the Council of Urban Boards of Education (United Kingdom) survey. Identifies factors, such as perceived local support, that affect the likelihood a school board will adopt such a program. (SLD)

Education in European countries has been characterized by a tendency toward decentralization and deregulation. The Dutch Ministry of Education commissioned the University of Twente to perform a comparative study of actual and future shifts in tasks, responsibilities, and authority in education in several European countries. This book presents…

This study examined the allocation of government research grants to universities in the United Kingdom in the context of the current funding system which distributes such grants based on universities' performance in the marketplace. Marketplace performance indicators include academic staff and postgraduate student counts, grants from Research…

Recent literature has made little attempt to apply historical studies to the problems of contemporary educational administration or to use historical studies as the basis for analysis or prediction. This article examines the role of historical insights in relation to educational administration and proposes approaches that might enhance their…

The consultation paper issued by Britain's Department for Education, "Special Educational Needs: Access to the System," concerning amendments to the 1981 education act, is summarized. Noted are recommendations concerning school choice, procedures for assessments and statements, guidance, appeals, and appeals tribunal functions and…

Describes the Newcastle Architecture Workshop, an independent, charitable company that works with schools and the community in educating for urban environmental change. Activities in the schools include curriculum planning, collaborating with teachers, developing teaching strategies, and inservice training. Describes several workshop projects, and…

Recent concerns about "fairness" in university entrance have highlighted the need to review existing practices in admissions processes. The agendas for equity and social inclusion, however, must also apply to the processes and outcomes of higher education, where considerations of "standards" are additionally crucial. As…

The Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study, conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), aims to identify, measure and evaluate the extent to which effective practice in citizenship education develops in schools. The study began in 2001 and will conclude in…

Suggests that school-based review (SBR), which links evaluation to school improvement, could make accreditation a more developmental process. Identifies six characteristic aspects of SBR in Europe and North America. Outlines the GRIDS project in England and Wales, which engages schools in problem solving as part of internal school development. (SV)

A survey of 35 parents of children with severe physical handicaps and severe/profound learning difficulties either attending or not attending a residential special school in Britain found that parents chose the school because of lack of local services, lack of family support, the 24-hour curriculum of the residential school, and provision of a…

Considers village and district councillors' role in educational decision making, focusing on the "Pukhun maliks" and tribal chiefs in northwestern Pakistan's frontier's tribal areas. In this case study, the notion of community involvement in development planning is actually entrenching the people's powerlessness. (17 references) (MLH)

Discusses student support systems in distance education based on experiences at the Open University (United Kingdom). Topics addressed include distance education versus traditional education; changes in the learning process; management theory; student support as a service industry; course production; resource allocation; and decision-making…

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) can be seen to have reached maturity as the global data structure standard for the electronic representation of archival finding aids. One factor responsible for this success, flexibility, is now being questioned as it has led to a great deal of divergent practice. This article discusses the attempt to tighten…