Modernisation of education and the school workforce
This work is building on an ongoing project about change in education, and in particular the growth in performance management in schools. It is focused on exploring the relationship between learners and learning, and the wider issues of structural and cultural change.
There are a number of projects with publications:
2007-2008 New Models of Leadership Project
This project is funded by the National College for School Leadership and is being led by Dr Chris Chapman. The team includes: Professor Mel Ainscow, Dr Joanna Bragg, Professor Helen Gunter, Dr Denis Mongon, Professor Daniel Muijs, Professor Mel West. The project is focusing on current structural and cultural changes in leadership and management, with a particular interest in job redesign and role change. A literature report and database have been produced along with a major analysis of case study schools. Research reports and publications will be forthcoming, and more details about the project can be obtained from: chris.chapman@manchester.ac.uk
2007-2008 Entrepreneurialism, leadership and organisational reform in the public sector: the case of an independent state school in the inner city.
Funded by the British Academy. This project is being co-directed by Professor Philip Woods and Dr Glenys Woods (Gloucester) and Professor Helen Gunter. This is a study of the New Labour policy on academies, with a particular focus on a case study academy in an inner city area. The main themes of the case study are to examine leadership practice and the development of entrepreneurialism within the newly established academy. Background to the study is included in: Woods, P., Woods, G. and Gunter, H.M. (2007) "Academy schools and entrepreneurialism in education" Journal of Education Policy. 22, (2) 263-285. Research reports and publications will be forthcoming, and more details about the project can be obtained from: Helen.gunter@manchester.ac.uk
2006-2007 Knowledge Production in Educational Leadership Project
ESRC (RES-000-23-1192)
This Project is investigating the coalitions of interests and regulation of knowledge, knowers and knowing in educational leadership. The state has drawn upon, sustained and developed a form of knowledge, a network of knowers, and a preferred approach to knowing, in order to bring about change in the public domain. Attention is focused in the research on the primacy of school leadership as (a) a form of knowledge designed to deliver improvement and effectiveness; (b) underpinned by a network of knowers; and (c) ways of knowing as required attributes and behaviours structured by national standards. There is evidence from literature searches and the ESRC seminar series, Challenging the Orthodoxy of School Leadership, that there are other types of knowledge, knowing and knowers within the field in England. The Project will collect the professional biographies of a sample of those involved: experts in research in the UK and internationally, practitioners in schools, policy makers, and private sector consultants. The outcome of the Project will be: (a) a scholarly account of the scope, orientation and development of the field; and, (b) a theory of knowledge production that will describe and explain the inter-relationship between the state, research and practice. More detail about the project can be obtained from: Helen.gunter@manchester.ac.uk
The research is being analysed and publications are ongoing. Current examples include:
Forrester, G. and Gunter, H.M. (2008) "School Leaders: meeting the challenge of change" in: Chapman, C. and Gunter, H.M. (eds) Radical Reforms: public policy and a decade of educational reform. London: Routledge.
Gunter, H.M. and Forrester, G. (2008) "New Labour and School Leadership 1997-2007. British Journal of Educational Studies. In press.
2004-2007 Whole School Development and Innovation.
Funded by the Innovation Unit at the Department for Education and Skills. The project was completed in collaboration with Professor Pat Thomson (Nottingham) and examined the nature of rapid change in a case study school. This work developed into a project with students as researchers examining a major area of school and student life. Publications include:
Gunter, H.M. and Thomson, P. (2008) "Learning about Student Voice" Support for Learning. 22 (4), In press.
Gunter, H.M. and Thomson, P. (2007) "But, where are the children?" Management in Education. 21 (2), 23-28.
Hollins, K., Gunter, H.M. and Thomson, P. (2006) "Living Improvement: a case study of a secondary school in England" Improving Schools. 9 (2), 141-152.
Thomson, P. and Gunter, H.M. (2006) "From 'consulting pupils' to 'pupils as researchers': a situated case narrative" British Educational Research Journal. 32 (6), 839-856.
Thomson, P. and Gunter, H.M. (2008) "Researching bullying with students: a lens on everyday life in an innovative school" International Journal of Inclusive Education. In Press.
Thomson, P. and Gunter, H. (2008) "Student's participation in school change: action research on the ground" in: Somekh, B. and Noffke, S. (eds) Handbook of Educational Action Research. London: SAGE. In press.
Thomson, P. and Gunter, H.M. (2007) "The Methodology of Students-as-Researchers: Valuing and using experience and expertise to develop methods" Discourse. 28 (3), 327-342.
2005-2006 Middle Leadership Project. Funded by the National College for School Leadership. Professor Tanya Fitzgerald (Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand) and Joy Eaton (Principal, Auckland, New Zealand) and Helen Gunter undertook a comparative study into the middle leadership and the relationship with learning. The report is available from the NCSL, www.ncsl.org.uk
Publications include:
Fitzgerald, T. and Gunter, H.M. (2006) "Teacher leadership: A new form of managerialism?" New Zealand Journal of Educational Leadership. 21 (2), 43-56.
Fitzgerald, T. and Gunter, H.M., with Eaton, J. (2006) "The missing link? Middle Leadership in Schools in New Zealand and England". New Zealand Journal of Educational Leadership. 21 (1), 29-43
Fitzgerald, T. and Gunter, H.M. (2006) "Leading learning: middle leadership in schools in England and New Zealand. Management in Education, 20 (3), 6-8.
Gunter, H.M. and Fitzgerald, T. (2007) "Leading learning and leading teachers: Challenges for schools in the 21st century" Leading and Managing. 13 (1), 1-15.
2004-2006 The LEArn Project: An exploration of the brokerage and facilitation of school-based networks
This project was jointly funded by the DfES/NCSL from 2004-06. The research identified six approaches adopted by local authorities to broker and facilitate school-based networks. For further information contact: Dr Chris Chapman. chris.chapman@manchester.ac.uk
2003-2005: An exploration of The Specialist Schools Achievement Programme
This research was funded by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. The project ran from 2003-05. The findings highlight a number of key strategies and principles associated with developing a partnership programmes aimed at raising achievement. This research also explored a number of issues and tensions associated with developing a collaborative approach to school improvement. For further information contact: Dr Chris Chapman. chris.chapman@manchester.ac.uk
2003-2004: Networking for Improvement in Schools facing Challenging Contexts
This small-scale project was funded by the NCSL during from 2003-04. The project explored the potential of Networked Learning Communities to support the improvement of schools in urban and challenging contexts. For further information contact: Dr Chris Chapman.
chris.chapman@manchester.ac.uk
2003-2004: Action Enquiry and Student Voice
This research and development project was funded by the Children's Fund in 2003-04. This project involved teachers and students from eight schools working with an HEI to develop an action research approach to school improvement. For further information contact: Dr Chris Chapman. chris.chapman@manchester.ac.uk