The Self-Transforming School combines an insightful meta-analysis of factors contributing to the success of schools, and an examination of powerful mega-trends that are shaping developments in education, to offer the first mega-analysis in education policy and practice. The book spans fifty years, beginning with Caldwell and Spinks' ground-breaking work The Self-Managing School which advocated innovative approaches that are now accepted as preferred practice, before offering a prognosis and plan for the future.

The book argues that all schools in all settings can secure success for all students in an era where society and the economy are changing constantly and dramatically. Although schools find some support in local and global networks, externally designed re-structuring, re-staffing, or command-and-control direction isn't sufficient to achieve transformation. Instead of replicating particular approaches to achieve modest improvement, leadership of the highest quality needs to be deeply embedded in schools and their systems. Caldwell and Spinks propose three important points that need to be taken into consideration:

-schools are often at different stages of self-transformation
-self-transformation requires a high level of professionalism, and must include teacher education and on-going professional development
-funding is critically important, and efforts to build a capacity for self-transformation are constrained by what is available.

The book gives particular attention to developments in Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Shanghai, Singapore and the United States. It will be of key interest to school leaders, policy makers, and academics and postgraduate students engaged in research on equity, student performance in highly disadvantaged settings and education policy.

About the Author

Brian J. Caldwell is Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Educational Transformations, Australia, and Professorial Fellow and former Dean of Education at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Jim M. Spinks is Director of All Across the Line and a former school principal who consults widely on student-focused planning and resource allocation, both in Australia and internationally.

Reviews

'The impact of the work of Caldwell and Spinks on policy makers and practitioners over the past twenty-five years has been enormous and this new book takes their thinking to a new and exciting frontier, one that will inspire the next generation of teachers wherever they are in the world.' - Dame Pat Collarbone, Director of Creating Tomorrow Ltd, UK

Book Information
ISBN 9780415660594
Author Brian J. Caldwell
Format Paperback
Page Count 222
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 430g