Books by Geoffrey Walford

Private schools are central to the reproduction of social inequality. For example, whilst in the UK providing only about seven per cent of the school population, about half of the undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge still come from the private sector. Private schools have long been associated with privilege and elitism. While this traditional elitist aspect to the private sector is still central, the private school sector is actually far more diverse that is usually acknowledged. It now includes many small schools and faith-based schools that may not offer the traditional advantages of the private sector but which provide a particular environment deemed desirable by parents. In spite of their educational and social importance, there has been very little academic research and writing on private schools. The proposed book will be the culmination of Professor Walford''s research into private schools over the past twenty years.

In this book, the author tackles a perennial issue in education policy, namely the inter-relationship of markets and equity. His discussion synthesises research findings - his own in the context of others - examining the triangle between theory, policy, and practice. This is useful for library collections and individual academics and researchers.

Reflecting the trials and tribulations and the problems and promises of conducting research, this guide reveals it as a much more complex process than is usually recognised, often messy and disorganised. It looks at issues from choosing topics through methods to publication of findings.

First Published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.