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The reorganisation of secondary education in Bath and Southampton

The reorganisation of secondary education in Bath and Southampton
The reorganisation of secondary education in Bath and Southampton

This study investigates the process of decision-making in secondary reorganisation in two contrasting local authorities. Four principal local actors are suggested – representatives, administrators, teachers and, on occasion, Department of Education and Science – who worked through the process towards a decision on reorganisation. They had an interacting relationship both with each other and with the local community. The central area of research is the initiative for the change, the reaction of the local authority to this initiative, the manner in which the decision was reached and the way local environmental factors were brought to bear.

Local authority decision-making in general and the role of the principal actors are examined, but special attention is given to the position of teachers, the diversity of secondary school systems and the organised local interests which exist in secondary education. Its development since 1944 is reviewed, emphasis being placed on the central local relationship in the implementation of policy and changing ideas on comprehensive schools.

The two selected authorities present significant contrasts in their political systems and processes, their internal committee and Council functions, and the role of educational administrators in secondary reorganisation. These contrasts extend to the organisation and role of the teachers, the nature of the consultative process, and the influence of the wider community. Indeed, a small group amongst the principal actors progressed from confrontation with each other to agreement about reorganisation, and the development of consensus between political opponents on secondary reorganisation is regarded as fundamental. Each of the principal actors brought a particular authority and knowledge to the decision-making process. 

University of Southampton
White, Philip T
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White, Philip T
7368011b-da04-4f9d-bec8-bffecce1305d
Hill, D.M.
08f33fb5-392f-46f5-acc1-31c7adbf1770
Mellors, C.
5168a064-b5f5-4a74-9cce-cd516a270811

White, Philip T (1974) The reorganisation of secondary education in Bath and Southampton. University of Southampton, Masters Thesis, 338pp.

Record type: Thesis (Masters)

Abstract

This study investigates the process of decision-making in secondary reorganisation in two contrasting local authorities. Four principal local actors are suggested – representatives, administrators, teachers and, on occasion, Department of Education and Science – who worked through the process towards a decision on reorganisation. They had an interacting relationship both with each other and with the local community. The central area of research is the initiative for the change, the reaction of the local authority to this initiative, the manner in which the decision was reached and the way local environmental factors were brought to bear.

Local authority decision-making in general and the role of the principal actors are examined, but special attention is given to the position of teachers, the diversity of secondary school systems and the organised local interests which exist in secondary education. Its development since 1944 is reviewed, emphasis being placed on the central local relationship in the implementation of policy and changing ideas on comprehensive schools.

The two selected authorities present significant contrasts in their political systems and processes, their internal committee and Council functions, and the role of educational administrators in secondary reorganisation. These contrasts extend to the organisation and role of the teachers, the nature of the consultative process, and the influence of the wider community. Indeed, a small group amongst the principal actors progressed from confrontation with each other to agreement about reorganisation, and the development of consensus between political opponents on secondary reorganisation is regarded as fundamental. Each of the principal actors brought a particular authority and knowledge to the decision-making process. 

Text
White 1974 Thesis - Version of Record
Available under License University of Southampton Thesis Licence.
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Published date: 1974

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 462293
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/462293
PURE UUID: b75ccfd2-7a59-42e1-bb43-0feb5ac1f235

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 19:05
Last modified: 13 Nov 2024 17:48

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Contributors

Author: Philip T White
Thesis advisor: D.M. Hill
Thesis advisor: C. Mellors

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