Anne West – författare

There is greater pressure for schools to meet certain levels of pupil achievement now more than ever before. Teachers and policy-makers are looking for ways to ensure pupils are not underachieving, and to do this must have some understanding of the causes of underachievement.

This timely book examines different levels of achievement of pupil groups and the reasons behind them. The authors highlight ways in which schools and policy-makers might improve achievement through changes in policy and practice. Some of the topics considered are:

* What is underachievement?* Social background and achievement * School structures and achievement* Schools raising attainment

Underachievement in Schools will be a valuable resource for anyone involved with school policy as well as teachers and those training to teach.

There is greater pressure for schools to meet certain levels of pupil achievement now more than ever before. Teachers and policy-makers are looking for ways to ensure pupils are not underachieving, and to do this must have some understanding of the causes of underachievement.

This timely book examines different levels of achievement of pupil groups and the reasons behind them. The authors highlight ways in which schools and policy-makers might improve achievement through changes in policy and practice. Some of the topics considered are:

* What is underachievement?* Social background and achievement * School structures and achievement* Schools raising attainment

Underachievement in Schools will be a valuable resource for anyone involved with school policy as well as teachers and those training to teach.

Drawing an unfavourable contrast between the position of students and graduates with that of their baby boomer parents has become a staple for media comment. Indeed, student indebtedness and difficulties in finding graduate jobs and housing typically contrasts markedly with their parents’ experiences.

Broadening the investigation, ‘Helicopter Parenting’ and ‘Boomerang Children’ depicts how students and graduates are now likely to be close to their parents, receive considerable financial and emotional support from them and, upon graduation, return home. Using qualitative data from two interview studies of middle-class families, this title explores the impact of these changes on young people’s transition to independence and adulthood and on intergenerational and intragenerational equality.

This enlightening monograph will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in fields such as Social Policy, Family Sociology and Education.

Drawing an unfavourable contrast between the position of students and graduates with that of their baby boomer parents has become a staple for media comment. Indeed, student indebtedness and difficulties in finding graduate jobs and housing typically contrasts markedly with their parents’ experiences.

Broadening the investigation, ‘Helicopter Parenting’ and ‘Boomerang Children’ depicts how students and graduates are now likely to be close to their parents, receive considerable financial and emotional support from them and, upon graduation, return home. Using qualitative data from two interview studies of middle-class families, this title explores the impact of these changes on young people’s transition to independence and adulthood and on intergenerational and intragenerational equality.

This enlightening monograph will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in fields such as Social Policy, Family Sociology and Education.

Published in 1983. One response to the recent concern about pupil discipline in schools has been the creation of support centres: off-site special units to which disruptive pupils are sent for varying periods of time for education and supervision. The Inner London Education Authority had a substantial network of such centres. Yet the concept of these units has aroused some criticism: they have been labelled as ’sin-bins’ and as dumping grounds for adolescents.

This book is based on major research conducted by the ILEA over a number of years and provides the only substantial evaluation of support centres. Data are presented on pupil characteristics and attainment, on how the centres operate and on the views of the staff in centres and in referring schools.

It concludes with an evaluation of support centres, highlighting a range of innovative approaches to the management of disruptive behaviour. The authors warn of the dangers of developing a separate system for disruptive pupils, but conclude that some form of alternative provision is needed for the foreseeable future.

Published in 1983. One response to the recent concern about pupil discipline in schools has been the creation of support centres: off-site special units to which disruptive pupils are sent for varying periods of time for education and supervision. The Inner London Education Authority had a substantial network of such centres. Yet the concept of these units has aroused some criticism: they have been labelled as ’sin-bins’ and as dumping grounds for adolescents.

This book is based on major research conducted by the ILEA over a number of years and provides the only substantial evaluation of support centres. Data are presented on pupil characteristics and attainment, on how the centres operate and on the views of the staff in centres and in referring schools.

It concludes with an evaluation of support centres, highlighting a range of innovative approaches to the management of disruptive behaviour. The authors warn of the dangers of developing a separate system for disruptive pupils, but conclude that some form of alternative provision is needed for the foreseeable future.

Published in 1994, Mother’s Intuition? examines the process of choosing secondary schools in two inner London boroughs. The research is based upon detailed interviews with parents as well as questionnaires filled in by pupils themselves. The authors address several important dimensions in the choosing process which had not been investigated by previous research. The book particularly focusses on the main question arising from the interviews; who does the choosing – mother, father or the child? Other areas discussed are the changing nature of families and the role different members in lone parent families play, as well as the different decisions made between families with girls and boys, and those from different racial and ethnic groups.

Published in 1994, Mother’s Intuition? examines the process of choosing secondary schools in two inner London boroughs. The research is based upon detailed interviews with parents as well as questionnaires filled in by pupils themselves. The authors address several important dimensions in the choosing process which had not been investigated by previous research. The book particularly focusses on the main question arising from the interviews; who does the choosing – mother, father or the child? Other areas discussed are the changing nature of families and the role different members in lone parent families play, as well as the different decisions made between families with girls and boys, and those from different racial and ethnic groups.