School-to-school support within a competitive education system: views from the inside

Armstrong, P. W. and Ainscow, M. (2018) School-to-school support within a competitive education system: views from the inside. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 29(4), pp. 614-633. (doi: 10.1080/09243453.2018.1499534)

Abstract

This paper draws on evidence from a study carried out in England to explore how schools can support one another’s improvement within a policy context that emphasises competition. The findings offer some reasons to be optimistic, and are suggestive of the capacity and potential of the school system in England to “self-improve” through collaborative means. However, light is also thrown on a number of barriers that need to be overcome to make such an approach work. The paper argues that developing a greater understanding of the social complexities involved in school-to-school support requires research that takes account of the views of those involved. With this in mind, the paper reflects on the experiences of a group of school leaders in England, leading to lessons that are likely to be relevant to those in other national contexts where competition is seen as a driver for school improvement.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Department for Education and Skills [Grant number 2016/35].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ainscow, Professor Mel
• Authors: Armstrong, P. W., and Ainscow, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: School Effectiveness and School Improvement
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0924-3453
• ISSN (Online): 1744-5124
• Published Online: 20 August 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Informa UK Limited
• First Published: First published in School Effectiveness and School Improvement 29(4):614-633
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher