Press releases

A review published today by RISE (Research and Information on State Education) examines the differences in school systems across the UK.

The publication of this review is timely in view of the contrasting outcome of recent elections in different parts of the UK.

The review, by Dr Linda Croxford of the Centre for Educational Sociology, University of Edinburgh, shows how different cultures and political priorities in the four nations of the UK are creating increasingly different experiences of schooling.

13 May 2011

A research review published today by RISE shows conclusively that, when asked in detailed surveys, the overwhelming majority of parents are satisfied with their children’s schools.

The publication of this review is timely in view of the attention currently being paid to the possibility that parents who are dissatisfied with local school provision might start their own schools.

The review analyses surveys of parents’ opinions about their children’s schools over the past five years. The analysis also reveals that, despite the emphasis placed on academic results by policy makers, the research contains much evidence to suggest that they are not as important to most parents as is often assumed.

9 June 2010

A new research report has concluded that there is a need for greater collective control over admission arrangements to schools in England.

After focusing on the work of Admission Forums, Philip Noden of the London School of Economics, who conducted the research for RISE, described them as "a mandatory body in search of a role". The research found a need for admission criteria to be co-ordinated and recommended that Admission Forums take on this role. The report recommends that a duty should be placed on Admission Forums to promote co-ordinated oversubscription criteria.

Philip Noden said –

"A key feature of Admission Forums is their lack of formal powers, indeed they might be crudely characterised as a mandatory body in search of a role. It is evident there is a need for greater local co-ordination of admission arrangements, including the co-ordination of oversubscription criteria, but we do not think this can be achieved by simply enforcing the current School Admissions Code".

This research, Secondary school admissions in England: Admission Forums, local authorities and schools, by Philip Noden and Anne West, Education Research Group, Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, is the first analysis carried out on the work of Admissions Forums since they were established. It examines how they and local authorities have responded to recent changes in the law relating to secondary school admissions.

8 December 2009

This week (beginning 2/3/2009) parents across the country will hear if their child has gained a place at a preferred secondary school and RISE (Research and Information on State Education) publishes a report on the criteria which have been used to make those decisions by admissions authorities in 3,134 English secondary schools.

Professor Anne West of the LSE who conducted the research for RISE says:

Despite improvements our research suggests that the system is still too complex, particularly for parents/carers who are not highly educated or proficient in English, and especially where there are schools responsible for their own admissions. The complexity is exacerbated by some schools seeking additional information from parents, often of a personal nature and unrelated to the admissions criteria. This information could be used to select in and select out children. If the government is genuinely interested in ensuring fair admissions, school admissions should be administered by an independent body (e.g. local authority or relevant church body) with no vested interest in the outcome.

The paper lists a number of findings and makes recommendations for further changes to admissions policy.

2 March 2009

A discussion paper on diversity in secondary education and parents’ views on it by Professor John Coldron, Centre for Education Research and Social Inclusion at Sheffield Hallam University, has been published today on the RISE website

The paper identifies different kinds of diversity – structural, educational and compositional (diversity of intake). Evidence as to how much of these kinds of diversity parents are likely to experience currently is examined. In concluding Professor Coldron says:

'I start from the position that providing room for people to have a say in what happens to them is in most parts of life a good thing and that diversity enriches society and the quality of experience and debate while uniformity tends to impoverish. My concern is that the current policies promoting choice and diversity in education borrow legitimacy from this common sense position but on closer inspection lack coherence and the claims about what people want are at best simplistic and at worst wrong.'

The paper concludes with questions for future research. RISE is inviting comments on the paper.

13 April 2007