Abstract

'Rarely does a book on education reform capture both the big and the small picture with such brilliant clarity. MacBeath and his colleagues furnish a -no holds barred- account of the ins and outs of understanding and assessing the impact of schools struggling for success. A fascinating read' - Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. This book examines key issues in the field of school improvement. More specifically, it draws on evidence from the Schools Facing Exceptionally Challenging Circumstances project to explore: o the policy context of schools on the edge. o the nature of extreme challenges. o the way schools have responded to extreme challenge. o what seems to be effective in helping such schools to meet the challenge. o obstacles to success and the facilities and resources to make a difference. o strategies to meet the needs of the local community. Each of the authors has wide experience of school effectiveness and improvement, and of working with schools in disadvantaged communities in Britain, the USA and many other parts of the world.