Rising From the Ashes: Case Studies of "Failing" English Schools in Deprived Communities

• In Event: Roundtable Session 53
  In Roundtable Session: Working With/in and for Communities: Participatory and Community-Based Action Research

Abstract

This paper draws from a funded research project, researching school strategies to raise attainment of 4-7 year olds in a deprived area of England. The paper focuses on action research-based case studies in two schools categorised by the government inspectorate in England (OfSTED) as failing. The project is an innovative collaborative venture of schools, a Local Authority and two universities. The findings reveal that a simple ‘what works’ approach is insufficient and over-simplistic for capturing the complexity of how a school, in such challenging circumstances, moves forward . There are suggestions for system changes but at the heart of how these are enacted, are specific assessments of individual pupils and relationships with their families highlighting personalised approaches to raising standards.

Authors

• Ruth Catherine Dann (Smith), Manchester Metropolitan University

• Farzana Shain, Keele University

• Laura Watt, Keele University