Excellence in Education

Cyril Taylor is Chairman of the Specialist Schools Trust; Conor Ryan education advisor to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

'Every ambitious teacher should read it.' Daily Telegraph 'This is a book that needed to be written...Here is a crystal clear account of the ingredients that the authors believe are needed to create great schools, not just from those that many have been merely good but from those that were underperforming or worse.' Times Educational Supplement 'A powerful picture of how schools today are working to improve learning.' Campaign for Learning 'The book all school leaders have been waiting for. Anybody who wants to know how outstanding heads have made the difference will not want to put it down.' David Hart, General Secretary, National Association of Headteachers 'Cyril Taylor and Conor Ryan have provided an invaluable and practical insight into how schools across the country have improved the life chances of thousands of young people. School leaders, governors, parents and policymakers will find it both readable and enlightening.' Rt Hon David Blunkett MP

• Preface; What makes a great school?; Starting out: the transition from primary to secondary school; The drive for continuous improvement; How to turn around a failing school; Accountability, transparency and choice: the value of specialism; Using data to improve performance; Teamwork: teachers, trainees and teaching assistants; Broad and balanced learning; Term times, timetables and changing classrooms; Discipline and attendance; Inspection and audit; Provision for children with special educational needs; Schools helping schools: the value of partnerships; Turning the rhetoric of school choice into reality; Lessons from abroad; Good schools manage their finances well and learn how to raise sponsorship; How information communications technology can improve learning; Can we transform our schools?; Appendix 1: How to calculate the value added of a secondary school; Appendix 2: Survey of best practice in leading specialist schools