School Governance in Post Devolution Scotland

(previously referred to as School Management after McCrone)

Contact: c.j.reeves@stir.ac.uk

01/01/2004 - 31/12/2008

Senior Research Fellows: Jane Brown (case study group) and Joan Stead (policy group)

This project investigates changes in school management and governance in post-devolution Scotland.

A policy review group is exploring whether a different policy dynamic is emerging post-devolution. Four key areas being investigated are 1) quality assurance 2) professional development and CPD 3) the curriculum and 4) restructuring of professional and school cultures.

A case study group is undertaking longitudinal empirical work in four case study sites across a range of Local Authorities in Scotland to capture the extent to which policy formation post devolution has impacted of staff views over time The first round of data collection has been completed. This included interviews with a range of staff in both primary and secondary schools. In order to gain insight into continuity in professional attitudes and practices, follow up interviews will be conducted at the beginning of 2007.

Dissemination:

A paper entitled 'Investigating Policy Formation in the field of School Management and Governance in Scotland post-devolution?, by J. Reeves, M. Lewis, & M. Cowie, was presented at ECER (European Council for Educational Research), Geneva, September 2006.