World Class Schools International Perspectives on School Effectiveness

The authors' research looks at what makes a successful school and how this varies in different countries. They look at schools in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, and Ireland.

In this book the authors have conducted extensive research and describe what makes a successful school and how this varies in different countries. The book follows the progress of a cohort of 7-year-old children through their schools over a two-year period. It covers schools in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, and Ireland and:*draw together what it is that the most and least effective schools do in each country*pinpoints what makes 'effective teaching' across the globe*analyses which effectiveness-producing school and teaching factors appear to be the same and which are context specific*discusses how educational policies can be used to generate World Class Schools and which new blends of practice can, or should be usedThe existing literature based upon the comparison of the educational achievements of different countries is inadequate. This unique study provides a rich picture of the processes of the education systems of different countries which will appeal to practitioners and policy makers.

Section One - World Class Schools: The International School Effectiveness Research Project (ISERP)< Background, Design and Quatitative Findings 1. The Intellectual and Policy Context 2. The Methodological Strategy of ISERP 3. The Quantitative Data Section Two - World Class Schools: The Case Studies of More Effective and Less Effective Schools in Different Countries North America 4. The United States 5. Canada The Pacific Rim/Australia 6. Taiwan 7. Australia 8. Hong Kong Europe 9. The Netherlands 10. Norway 11. The Republic of Ireland 12. United Kingdom Section Three - Conclusions: Creating World Class Schools 13. Comparisons Across Country Case Studies 14. Creating World Class Schools: What Have We Learned?

In 2002 David Reynolds was awarded a CBE for his work for the Numeracy Task Force.