The reality and implications of community perceptions of school effectiveness: a case study of selected schools

This research begins by analysing the effects of parental choice on the development of two neighbouring schools in one county between 1980 and 1990 and questions the validity of community judgement of schools. The literature review traces the development of home and school links and community involvement, the measurement of school effectiveness and previous work on parental choice of school. A distinction is made between "choice" and "judgement" of schools. The community which might affect a school is defined as parents, leavers and the community at large. An initial survey in one school identified those features which were considered important in judging the effectiveness of schools, and, backed by findings from a number of research sources, twelve criteria were selected as the basis for the main fieldwork. By means of a rapid response survey up to one hundred respondents in each of seven secondary schools, selected to give a range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, were asked to identify which of the twelve criteria were seen as strengths in the school. Up to thirty interviews were also held in each school community. In each school the identified strengths were compared with evidence for the existence of those strengths in school performance.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

The Open University

Year dc:date.issued

1992

Author dc:creator

• Glover, Derek Charles

Language dc:language

en