Parents and Their Children's Schools / Edition 1

by Martin Hughes, Tricia Nash, Felicity Wikeley

Overview

The role of parents in their children's education is an issue of critical importance. Many of the changes currently underway in British schools have been justified on the grounds that they provide "what parents want". But what do parents really want? And how have they reacted to the changes already introduced in the UK, such as increased parental choice, the National Curriculum, and standardized assessment?

Parents and Their Children's Schools is the first book to tackle this important issue in depth and will be important reading for all those involved in education. It presents the findings of a unique research study which looked directly at these questions. The study followed 150 children through Key Stage One (5-7 years) of the National Curriculum, culminating in the first standardized assessments of 7 year olds ever to take place in the UK. The book presents the views of their parents and teachers, obtained through regular in-depth interviews at crucial stages during this period. As such, it provides important insights into the changes currently underway in schools and their effects on parents. In a broader context, it makes a major contribution to our understanding of the fundamental relationship between parents and schools.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780631186625
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	06/06/1994
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 8.87(h) x 0.76(d)

About the Author

Martin Hughes is Reader in Education at the University of Exeter. Felicity Wikeley and Tricia Nash are both researchers in the Department of Education at the University of Exeter.

Table of Contents

Foreword.

1. A New Role for Parents.

2. How Headteachers See Parents.

3. Interviewing Parents.

4. Parents as Consumers.

5. Parents' Choice of School.

6. Parents' Satisfaction with Schools.

7. Parents and the National Curriculum.

8. Parents' Knowledge about School.

9. Parents and Assessment.

10. Giving Parents a Voice.

References.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Parental choice in education has become a focus of political interest. This important book uses research findings to discuss what parents want, and whether they see themselves as consumers of education, in a lively, readable and thought provoking way. Anyone interested in the role of parents in schools would benefit from reading it." Barbera Tizard, Institute of Education, University of London

"Parents have become increasingly important in education during the last few years, and this valuable book gives a full picture of their views and experiences in important aspects of curriculum and testing. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see what parents really think about their children's education." Professor E. C. Wragg, University of Exeter

From the Publisher