| Addresses a much-debated subject in educational policy Educational standards have figured prominently in recent debates over educational policy all over the world. This is the first time that such a distinguished collection of scholars have come together in the UK to discuss different perspectives on this issue. Two abiding themes emerge from these contributions to the debate. The first is that the very notion of a ‘standard’ has to be viewed in its historical and social context. Different countries have widely varying views of what constitutes a ‘standard’ and how necessary such a concept is for the adequate functioning of their educational systems. And secondly, it is difficult, if not impossible, to arrive at an ‘objective’ definition of educational standards. Policies based upon comparisons of examinations, tests or other devices should therefore be seen for what they really are — human judgements which, however conscientiously pursued, are ultimately subjective and influenced by culture, personality and general perceptions of the external world. Readership: Academics, educational policy-makers, and administrators.
The volume is edited by Harvey Goldstein, Professor of Statistical Methods, Institute of Education, University of London, and a Fellow of the British Academy, and Anthony Heath, Professor of Sociology and Official Fellow, Nuffield College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the British Academy.
The papers arise from a conference on ‘Educational Standards’ held at the Academy in October 1998. | CONTENTS - Harvey Goldstein & Anthony Heath, Introduction
- Alison Wolf, A Comparative Perspective on Educational Standards
with discussion by Julia Whitburn and David Reynolds
- Richard Aldrich, Educational Standards in Historical Perspective
with discussion by Gillian Sutherland, Anthony Heath and Sig Prais
- Mike Cresswell, The Role of Public Examinations in Defining and Monitoring Standards (extract)
with discussion by John Gray, Lindsay Paterson and Chelly Halsey
- David J Bartholomew, The Measurement of Standards
with discussion by Harvey Goldstein and Ian Plewis
REVIEW “Discussion of the meaning of the phrase ‘educational standards’ and of the many difficulties associated with assessing them, will provide much food for reflection, not least for those charged with formulating and implementing Government policies in the field of education in the new millennium.”
English Historical Review |
