What works in school improvement? Lessons from the field and future directions

Alma Harris*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper outlines the range of school improvement interventions and programmes currently in operation. It summarizes the main features of those school improvement programmes that have been shown to work in practice. It also high-lights the limitations of contemporary school improvement programmes and argues that school improvement needs to be more rigorously conceptualized and evaluated. The paper concludes by suggesting that future school improvement work needs to be more carefully matched to the needs of different types of schools. It also suggests that future development in the field should be premissed upon what works in practice, rather than what fits in terms of political expediency.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalEducational Research
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Educational change
  • Educational evaluation
  • School development
  • School effectiveness
  • School improvement
  • School restructuring

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