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Postgraduate Programmes
Course Units
MD408
MD408 School Effectiveness
(20 credit points)
Tutor: Bill
Boyle
Aims
The module aims to
- identify and review key research in the area of school
effectiveness over the last thirty years which has shaped current models
of school effectiveness;
- debate how school effectiveness might be measured,
in the context of recent developments in England and Wales of performance
management using examination results;
- introduce and review a range of procedures and measures
used in school effectiveness research;
- consider the relevance of the above models and procedures
to the education systems of other countries.
Additionally, all modules seek to develop the transferable
skills of course members. Here, the major areas targeted are
- Critical analysis of appropriate literatures
- Understanding the complexity of the relationship between
theory and practice.
- Appreciation/contextualisation of current issues in
the field.
- The habits of scholarship.
Content
The module has evolved in response to the current
debate in England and Wales concerning examination league tables, the
"value-added" dimension, and their utility as indicators of
school effectiveness.
It takes as its starting point the use of performance
indicators in an educational context.
Research into school effectiveness in both primary and
secondary sectors is considered and critically reviewed.
The interpretation of such procedures as Value-added
Analysis and multi-level modelling is introduced.
The relationship between school effectiveness research
and school improvement research is considered briefly as a link between
MD408 and MD487.
Teaching and learning methods
The module will be taught by a mixture of lecture
and discussion. Recent and relevant journal articles will be an important
resource. Recent developments in England and Wales will be used as a starting
point for debate but students will be required to consider the issues
in the context of their own country.
The assignment should have relevance to the education
system in which the student operates.
Core Publications
Boyle, B and Christie, T. (eds) (1996) Issues in setting standards. Falmer,
London.
Cohn, E. (1997) Market approaches to education: vouchers and school choice.
Elselvier Science, London.
European Commission (2000) European report on quality of school education:
sixteen quality indicators. Report based on the Working Committee on Quality
Indicators; www
Gray, J. (1996) The use of assessment to compare institutions. In H. Goldstein
and T. Lewis (eds) Assessment: Problems, developments and statistical
issues. Wiley, NY.
Gray, J. (2000) Causing concern but improving: a review of schools’
experiences. DfES (www) Research brief 1898; www
HMI (1998) The Use Made by LEAs of Public Examination Results. DES, London.
Mortimore, P (1998) The Road to Improvement: Reflections on school effectiveness.
Swets and Zeitlinger, London.
Reynolds, D et al (1994) Advances in school effectiveness Research and
Practice. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Saunders, L. et al (2000) Raising attainment in secondary schools: a handbook
for school self-evaluation. NFER, Slough
Teddlie, C. and Reynolds, D. (2000) The International Handbook of School
Effectiveness Research. Falmer, London.
Willms, J.D. (1992) Monitoring School Performance: A Guide for Educators.
Falmer, London.
Assessment
One assignment of 4,000 words which reviews the
research and considers its relevance to the student's own situation. This
is to be submitted within four weeks of the end of the semester in which
the module is taught.
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