Creating a Learning School - Hardcover

Middlewood, David; Parker, Richard; Beere, Jackie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1412910412 ISBN 13: 9781412910415

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2005

Synopsis

′It is full of good sense, a treasure chest of helpful ideas which have the credibility of being grounded in case-study material, and in the experience of the authors, two of whom are practising headteachers. The book sets out the principles underpinning the learning school, but offers also a strong pragmatic focus and is organized so that it can be dipped into and something worthwhile easily found...It will support change and improvement in the professional practices involved in making a school a stimulating learning environment for adults as well as students′ - Dr Martin J Coles, Assistant Director, National College for School Leadership

The ′learning school′ described in this book suggests an alternative to the preoccupation with tests, targets, and leadership from above, and focuses instead on independence of learning and structural flexibility within schools.

The authors give a complete overview of how schools can adapt to meet changing needs. They look at the teacher as learner, learning outside the classroom, and the nature of leadership in the learning school. Practical suggestions to the problems of staffing, resourcing and assessment are all covered, enabling those in schools to make their own choices.

This book is an invaluable resource for all mid-to-upper level managers in schools, anyone aspiring to these positions, or anyone who takes a long-term view of the future with learning at the heart of educational practice.

David Middlewood is a research associate of the University of Lincoln.
Richard Parker is Principal of Beauchamp College, Leicestershire.
Jackie Beere OBE is Headteacher at Campion School.

About this title

About the Author:

David Middlewood is currently a part-time Research Fellow at the Centre for Educational Studies in the University of Warwick, having previously worked at the University of Lincoln and the University of Leicester where he was Deputy Director of the Centre for Educational Leadership and Management. Prior to working in Higher Education, David taught in schools for many years, culminating in the principalship  of a comprehensive secondary school for nine years, where awards were won for creative arts and equal opportunities. He has taught and researched extensively in the UK and also in various countries in Europe and Africa, being a visiting professor in New Zealand and in South Africa. David has written and edited more than twenty books, many on people leadership and management, strategic leadership, appraisal, practitioner research and some recent research includes work on high performing teams, support staff and student voice. He was co-editor of two professional journals for both primary and secondary school leaders for over six years. He recently co-authored a book on the  leadership of groups of schools and his current work (with Ian Abbott) concerns leadership of learning for disadvantaged pupils.

Review:

′Improving the quality of learning and teaching is the most important thing that school leaders do. This book contains much that will help the reader in that enterprise. It reflects the fact that much of what we know about effective, high-quality schools is already ‘out there’ in schools across the country. The book mines that gold. It is full of good sense, a treasure chest of helpful ideas which have the credibility of being grounded in case-study material, and in the experience of the authors, two of whom are practising headteachers. The book sets out the principles underpinning the Learning School, but offers also a strong pragmatic focus and is organized so that it can be dipped into and something worthwhile easily found. It sets out practical and specific steps to creating the Learning School and will support change and improvement in the professional practices involved in making a school a stimulating learning environment for adults as well as students′ - Dr Martin J Coles, Assistant Director, National College for School Leadership

About this edition

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1412910412
• ISBN 13: 9781412910415
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208