Improving Primary Schools, Improving Communities

This book shows how a multi-ethnic urban primary school can meet rigourous Government targets when policy and practice are underpinned by social justice. It provides a model of inclusive practice. The Chair of Governors and the Headteacher of a school described by its OFSTED inspectors in 1998 as 'making an outstanding contribution to the local community' describe how the school has gone about improving the achievement of its pupils so impressively. Both authors sent their children to the school, and in this book they have collaborated with its pupils, teachers and other workers and with parents, governors and members of the community. The result is a handbook for supporting development in schools. It provides a model for what a community primary school can be. The book explores evolving a vision for a school; school development planning; assemblies and religious activity; the school council; performance (such as multilingual productions of Macbeth and The Tempest); staff management; behaviour policy; assessing achievement; attacking racism; the work of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Team; This handbook will be invaluable on courses for aspiring and recently appointed headteachers and will also interest experienced headteachers and educational policy makers. Primary teachers will find much to enhance their practice.