With increasing inclusion, mainstream teachers need to be sympathetic towards meeting the needs of those with special educational needs. Little previous research has considered the complex relationships between attitudes and practice and how the subject taught impacts on this. Consequently a case study approach was adopted using a Likert-type attitude scale and open-ended questions to determine the attitudes towards SEN of the teachers in one school. This suggested that teachers of the core subjects, English, maths and particularly science, were more likely to have less positive attitudes than those of other subjects. Of the core subjects, students with SEN made least progress in science at Key Stage 3. More in-depth studies, using interviews, structured and unstructured observation, of five teachers from two departments, science and English, revealed that attitudes to SEN did not necessarily relate directly to practice. Although teachers with less positive attitudes were less willing to use strategies to meet the needs of those with SEN, they did try to meet those needs. Success however, was probably more related to effectiveness as a teacher. The importance of attitudes to practice is probably related more to subtle messages effecting students' self-esteem and beliefs about their suitability for specific subjects.

This study explores Teaching Assistants’ perceptions of their work in the inclusion of pupils with ‘special educational needs’ (SEN) within secondary schools. In a field where much research focusses on the technicist, exploration of ‘inclusion’ and of power is prioritised. Elements of critical discourse analysis (CDA) are used to examine the words of Teaching Assistants (TAs) talking about their work. A simple CDA framework is produced, based on the work of others and piloted with (public domain) film footage of TAs talking about their work. The framework is then used to analyse interviews with 8 TAs who have extensive experience. The TAs prioritise discretion, even imperceptibility, as they actively stay ‘under the radar’ of teachers. A divide within mainstream schools between ‘the mainstream’ and SEN resourced ‘base’ seems apparent to the TAs, whether the base is geographically separated or not. ‘Inclusion’ is actively sought, for example through advocacy and alternative provision. Insights from Foucault, Derrida and Goffman are deployed in the analysis in order to contribute theoretical imagination to consider why limitations in TA practice may occur. A degree of emotional labour is indicated but Goffman’s work on managing spoiled identity, stigma and ‘cooling’ is of particular interest.

This thesis is concerned with understanding how the implementation of a behaviour policy in a school can be evaluated effectively. A ‘Realistic Evaluation’ approach (Pawson and Tilley, 1997) was used as a framework. Relevant literature has been identified and analysed through the process of a ‘realist synthesis’ in order to identify potential contexts and mechanisms and associated outcomes. These identified ‘context-mechanism-outcome configurations’ were used to construct eight theories regarding how students experiencing SEBD could be supported effectively by their school. The theories were tested in the study through data gathering from students experiencing a range of SEBD, their parents, teaching staff and members of the school senior leadership team. The realist interview techniques of ‘teacher-learner function’, and ‘conceptual refinement process’ (Pawson and Tilley, 1997) were used to identify contexts and mechanisms that supported the implementation of the behaviour policy. The findings from the study indicate programme self-evaluation and development in the complex social organisation of a school is more effective when it actively involves a variety of stakeholders from different levels and positions within the school community, and when it considers contextual factors at the individual, interpersonal, school and the wider social and policy level.

The educational achievements and wellbeing of Looked After Children (LAC) have been a cause of concern for government health and education departments for the past three decades. This is because of a continually growing body of research detailing the disadvantage and poor outcomes that this population is at risk of experiencing in many areas of their lives. This thesis was produced as part of the written requirements for the new full-time Doctoral training in Educational Psychology. Volume One contains three chapters: Chapters One introduces the research study and literature review, provides contextual information about the relevance of the subject area at local and national levels and reflects on the challenges of brokering the study. Chapter Two evaluates existing research evidence which claims to chart major risk and protective factors encountered by LAC throughout their care and school experience. Chapter Three reports on findings from research carried out with the Year 11, 2006-07 cohort of Looked After Children (LAC) under the care of a West Midlands Local Authority (LA) in the year (2007-08). A mixed method approach was adopted in order to identify educational and within care risk and protective factors for those LAC within this cohort who were not entered for GCSE examinations or alternative qualifications. Statistical analysis of quantitative data was carried out and a sub-sample of young people interviewed to elicit their views on factors which were influential in their educational outcomes.

In the context of racial discrimination and racism, particularly in Education, this study focuses upon a group of permanently excluded Asian pupils and aims to give an interpretation of their, and their parents’, perception of schooling in the central area of Birmingham. A literature review of current research, LEA’s response to exclusion, various educational legislation and its implications is included. The data were collected using 26 Exclusion Reports [13 Asian and 13 English pupils] from schools. Comparisons are made between the two different groups. Other methods include interviews of five permanently excluded Asian pupils and their parents, four Education Social Workers, Headteachers of secondary schools and a questionnaire to the Headteachers. The main themes that have emerged in this research related to schools are: racial discrimination and racism, shortage of Asian teachers and Asian Governors, a distinct lack of teachers’ understanding of racial and cultural issues, a dearth of policies on anti-racism, antisexism, multiculturalism and equal opportunities, and inadequate provision oi interpreting/translating services for non-English speaking parents in the schools. In conclusion, recommendations for LEA policies and for further research have been put forward.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate little known and often neglected category of American education, the articulated military school and junior college.;Kemper Military School and College was chosen as the representative institution studied for several reasons: it has remained in almost continuous operation since its founding in 1844 at the height of the academy movement; it specialized as a military school in 1885 when the popularity of general academies began to wane; during the 1920s, it seized upon the rapid growth of the early junior college movement to expand in size and scope; and it was subsequently recognized by the American Council on Education for its attempts to integrate secondary and junior college studies.;It was hypothesized that although traditional academies had all but vanished and public community colleges had diverted significantly from the original junior college purpose, the articulated military school and junior college could have maintained a fidelity to the original missions of both. If this were true, then these schools would exhibit strong ties to their nineteenth century academy foundations, a demonstrated commitment to the original junior college philosophy, and a visible entwining of the secondary school and junior college.;Three overlapping qualitative techniques--documentary review, field observation, and personal interview--were used to conduct the study. Resulting field notes, interview transcripts, and documentary evidence were then melded to provide a comprehensive historical analysis and an answer to the research question.;It was concluded that not only had the articulated military school and college maintained a fidelity to the original academy and junior college philosophies, but that these philosophies well serve current constituents. Such a finding suggests that other unique or forgotten institutions, ignored by researchers in favor of more current or fashionable models, might be every bit as enlightening and worthy of study as those of the educational mainstream.

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship existed between preservice science (biology) teacher education and the reforms in secondary school biology that occurred between 1950 and 1975. Research questions were generated which dealt with the collaboration of the various sectors of education as well as if the prospective teachers were being trained to teach the reform curricula through their college science and teacher education coursework.;Content analysis of textbooks was utilized to determine the content of textbooks on the secondary and higher education level. The secondary texts contrasted were Modern Biology and the BSCS Blue and Green series. A variety of textbooks were analyzed for higher education biology including those authored by Villee and Weisz. Teacher education methods textbooks which covered science education or biology teaching were also analyzed. Five topics were analyzed in each of the textbooks: the scientific method, classification, amphibians, heredity, and ecology. The evaluation instrument was adapted from the Curriculum Materials Analysis System for Science (Haussler & Pittman, 1973) and the Virginia Department of Education Science Textbook Evaluation Instrument.;It was hypothesized that the analyses would reveal that innovations and reforms in high school biology textbooks preceded reforms in higher education teacher education programs which would indicate that prospective teachers were not being taught the necessary skills, behaviors, or methods in their required coursework to adequately institute the reforms on the secondary level. It was also hypothesized that the analyses would reveal an inordinately long period of time before prospective teachers were being instructed in the methods necessary for them to function effectively in secondary classrooms with the reform curricula.;It was concluded that there was generally very little collaboration between the various sectors of education during 1950 and 1975. The first hypothesis was confirmed and the second hypothesis supported but not totally confirmed due to the lack of information on how textbooks were actually used in the teacher education classrooms. Further research is needed in this area.;Additional findings of the study indicate that textbooks from the recent past are difficult to locate and thus a significant portion of the history of education is disappearing.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the degree to which a principal demonstrates instructional leadership and student achievement in small high schools in Virginia. This inquiry was an extension of previous research which has examined the relationship between these two variables in urban elementary schools. The study controlled for the effects of the socioeconomic status of the students, which has been demonstrated through research to have an important impact on student achievement.;Forty-four high schools with enrollments in grades 10-12 of 500 or less students participated in the study. Teacher and supervisor questionnaires were used to measure principal instructional leadership. Student Achievement was measured by the schools' results on the Test of Achievement and Proficiency, which is the 11th grade component of the Virginia State Assessment Program. The percentage of students eligible for free and reduced meals at each school served as the surrogate variable for socioeconomic status.;It was hypothesized that (1) there would be a negative relationship between student achievement and socioeconomic status (i.e., the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced meals) and (2) after controlling for the effects of socioeconomic status, there would be a positive relationship between student achievement and principal instructional leadership.;It was concluded that there is a negative relationship between student achievement and socioeconomic status. It was further concluded that the results of the study do not support the hypothesis that principal instructional leadership has a statistically significant relationship with student achievement.;Further study is needed to examine the complex nature of the instructional leadership construct. Research should be conducted to determine how the principal's managerial efforts influence the teaching-learning process. In addition, the roles played by other individuals, such as other administrators, teachers, and parents should be investigated as to how principals can coordinate the efforts of these individuals to enhance student achievement.

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 mandates that middle school students be technologically literate by the end of 8th grade, but teachers need more information on how to make this outcome a reality. This qualitative phenomenological study used a constructivist theoretical framework to investigate teachers' descriptions of technological literacy outcomes, instructional practice, and challenges influencing middle school student technological literacy. Twelve teachers at 1 public middle school in a large urban area of Georgia were interviewed. Data were analyzed using the typological method with the inclusion of both inductive and predetermined categories. Teachers described technologically literate middle school students as able to perform basic computer skills and use those skills for research and problem-solving. Teachers' instructional practices included modeling and demonstration, hands-on practice, coaching, collaboration, and frequent assessment to achieve the outcome of student technological literacy. Challenges that can impede teachers' implementation of practices for technological literacy included lack of school support, equipment, time, and effective professional development. Recommendations to overcome challenges include increasing availability of equipment by providing better ways to schedule the computer laboratories and staff to monitor the equipment. Relevant up-to-date staff development and inclusion of technological literacy as a school goal were also suggested. This study may influence social change because it may help teachers improve practices to develop students' technological literacy skills necessary for successful employment in the 21 st century.