Over the past decade, Great Britain has experienced a variety of changes in education policy that have been introduced and justified in terms of giving parents a greater choice of school. This article reviews these various policy developments and makes a preliminary assessment of their equity effects. It is argued that the British experience has considerable relevance to the current debate about school choice in the United States and thatAmerican educators and policymakers would be wise to take note of the findings from research studies of choice in Britain.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adler, M.
, Petch, A., & Tweedie, J. (1989). Parental choice and educational policy. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
2.
Adler, M.
, & Rabb, C. D. (1988). Exit, choice and loyalty: The impact of parental choice on admissions to secondary schools in Edinburgh and Dundee. Journal of Education Policy, 3, 155-179.
3.
Department of Education and Science
. (1985). Assisted places at independent schools. London: Author.
4.
Department of Education and Science
. (1986). City technology colleges: A new choice of school. London: Author.
5.
Douse, M.
(1985). The background of assisted places scheme students. Educational Studies, 1, 211-217.
6.
Echols, F.
, McPherson, A., & Willms, J. D. (1990). Parental choice in Scotland. Journal of Education Policy, 5, 207-222.
7.
Edwards, T.
, Fitz, J., & Whitty, G. (1989). The state and private education: An evaluation of the assisted places scheme. London: Falmer.
8.
Fitz, J.
, Edwards, T., & Whitty, G. (1986). Beneficiaries, benefits and costs an investigation of the assisted places scheme. Research Papers in Education, 1(3), 169-193.
9.
Fox, I.
(1985). Private schools and public issues. London: Macmillan.
10.
Halpin, D.
, Fitz, J., & Power, S. (1991). Local education authorities and the grant-maintained schools policy. Educational Management and Administration, 19, 233-242.
11.
Hunter, J. B.
(1991). Which school? A study of parents' choice of secondary school. Educational Research, 33, 31-41.
12.
Johnson, D.
(1990). Parental choice in education. London: Unwin Hyman.
13.
Macbeth, A.
, Strachan, S., & Macaulay, C. (1986). Parental choice in Scotland. Glasgow: University of Glasgow Press.
14.
Petch, A.
(I 986a). Parental choice at entry to primary school. Research Papers in Education, 1(1), 26-47.
15.
Petch, A.
(1986b). Parents' reasons for choosing secondary schools. In A. Stillman (Ed.), The balancing act of 1980: Parents; politics and education. Windsor: NFER/Nelson.
16.
Stillman, A.
(Ed.). (1986). The balancing act of 1980: Parents politics and education. Windsor: NFER/Nelson.
17.
Stillman, A.
, & Maychell, K. (1986). Choosing schools: Parents, LEAs and the 1980 Education Act. Windsor: NFER/Nelson.
18.
Tapper, T.
, & Salter, B. (1986). The assisted places scheme: A policy evaluation. Journal of Education Policy, 1, 315-330.
19.
Walford, G.
(1990a). Privatization and privilege in education. London: Routledge.
20.
Walford, G.
(1990b). The 1988 Education Reform Act for England and Wales: Paths to privatization. Educational Policy, 4, 127-144.
21.
Walford, G.
(1990c). Developing choice in British education. Compare, 20, 67-81.
22.
Walford, G.
(1991a). City technology colleges: A private magnetism? In G. Walford (Ed.), Private schooling: Tradition, change and diversity. London: Chapman.
23.
Walford, G.
(199lb). Choice of school at the first city technology college. Educational Studies, 17, 65-75.
24.
Walford, G.
(1992). Educational reform in Great Britain. In P. W. Cookson, A. R. Sadvnik, & S. F. Senmel (Eds.), Handbook of international educational reform. New York: Greenwood.
25.
Walford, G.
, & Miller, H. (1991). City technology college. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
26.
West, A.
, & Varlaam, A. (1991). Choosing a secondary school: Parents of junior school children. Educational Research, 33, 22-30.
