The issue of whether schools immersed in a market culture will be more consumer responsive has been much debated in the UK and elsewhere. This paper examines the extent and ways in which school managers seek to identify parental viewpoints, so that these can influence school decision-making. It suggests schools vary in openness towards the receipt of parental viewpoints, managers placing a great deal of reliance upon informal and ad hoc means of feedback as opposed to-though not necessarily more valid-systematic and planned approaches.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Brighouse, T.
and Moon, R. (1995) `Let's Celebrate', Times Educational Supplement, 9 June.
2.
Brimblecombe, N.
, Ormston, M. and Shaw, M. (1995) `Teachers' Perceptions of School Inspection: A Stressful Experience', Cambridge Journal of Education25(1): 53-61.
3.
Coleman, P.
(1992) `Quality assurance: A Case Study of the Work of LEA Inspectors and Advisers in England', School Organisation12(2): 201-235.
4.
Dean, C.
(1995) `Cabinet Invited to Do Better', Times Educational Supplement, 26 June 1995, pp. 4-5.
5.
Dean, J.
(1994) What Headteachers and Teachers Think about Inspection. Slough: EMIE.
6.
Fidler, B.
, Ouston, J. and Earley, P. (1994) `OFSTED Inspections and their Contribution to School Development'. Presentation to the BERA conference, Oxford University, September 1994.
7.
Fidler, B.
, Earley, P. and Ouston, J. (1995) `OFSTED School Inspections and their Impact on School Development'. Presentation to the BERA conference, September 1995.
8.
Gray, J.
and Wilcox, B. (1994) `In the Aftermath of Inspection: The Nature and Fate of Inspection Report Recommendations'. Presentation to the BERA conference, September 1994.
9.
Hargreaves, D.H.
(1995) `Inspection and School Improvement', Cambridge Journal of Education25(1): 53-61.
10.
Lowe, P.A.
(1992) The LEA Adviser and Inspector: Changing Demands, Changing Role. Harlow: Longman.
11.
McGrath, R.K. (1993) `Will OFSTED Inspections Improve School Effectiveness?'. MA Dissertation, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford.
12.
Maychell, K.
and Keys, W. (1993) Under Inspection: LEA Evaluation and Monitoring. Slough: NFER.
13.
Metcalfe, C.
(1994) `Inspection and Quality: The Contribution of Research'. Presentation to the BERA conference, September 1994.
14.
OFSTED
(1993) Corporate Plan 1993-94 to 1995-1996. London: OFSTED.
15.
OFSTED
(1994) Handbook for the Inspection of Schools. London: OFSTED.
16.
Ormston, M.
and Shaw, M. (1994) Inspection: A Preparation Guide for Schools. Harlow: Longman.
17.
Russell, S.
(1994) `Telling It How They Were', Management in Education Winter 8(4): 6-7.
18.
Shaw, M.
, Brimblecombe, N. and Ormston, M. (1995) `It Ain't What You Do, it's the Way that You Do It', Management in Education9(1): 13-14.
19.
Webster, P.
(1995) `Major Wants all Schools to Opt Out', The Times, 24 August, p. 1.
20.
Winkley, D.
(1985) Diplomats antd Detectives. London: Robert Royce.
