Creating a Learning School

'Improving the quality of learning and teaching is the most important thing that school leaders do. This book contains much that will help the reader in that enterprise. It reflects the fact that much of what we know about effective, high-quality schools is already 'out there' in schools across the country. The book mines that gold. It is full of good sense, a treasure chest of helpful ideas which have the credibility of being grounded in case-study material, and in the experience of the authors, two of whom are practising headteachers. The book sets out the principles underpinning the Learning School, but offers also a strong pragmatic focus and is organized so that it can be dipped into and something worthwhile easily found. It sets out practical and specific steps to creating the Learning School and will support change and improvement in the professional practices involved in making a school a stimulating learning environment for adults as well as students' - Dr Martin J Coles, Assistant Director, National College for School Leadership '[C]learly set out, passionately and well-written, covering much material, full of interesting insights, as one might expect from two head teachers and an acknowledged expert in the field... Lots of interesting thoughts and ideas, written in an accessible style. I would certainly recommend this book to my students' - ESCalate The schools of the 21st century cannot continue to apply the techniques of the 20th century. 'New Learning' dispenses with outdated preoccupations with tests, targets, and leadership from above, and focuses on independence of learning and structural flexibility within schools. The authors give a complete overview of how schools can adapt to meet changing needs. They look at the teacher as learner, learning outside the classroom, and the nature of leadership in learning schools, and provide practical solutions to the problems of staffing, resourcing and assessment. This book is an invaluable resource for all mid-to-upper level managers in schools, anyone aspiring to these positions, or anyone who takes a longterm view of the future of educational practice.

Table of Contents:
What Will Learning Schools Look Like? - David Middlewood Why Learning Schools are Needed - David Middlewood Leadership for Learning Schools - Richard Parker Staff in Learning Schools - David Middlewood and Richard Parker Teachers as Learners - Jackie Beere Resourcing the Learning Environment - Richard Parker How we Learn in the ′Classroom′ - Jackie Beere Creating the Contexts for Effective Student Learning - Jackie Beere Learning and Transition - Richard Parker Assessment for Learning - Jackie Beere The Role of Parents in the Learning School - David Middlewood Moving Beyond Conventional Schooling - Richard Parker and David Middlewood