Reflections on policy and practice of inclusive education in pre‐primary schools in Cyprus

In July 1999 the House of Parliament in Cyprus passed the Education Act for Children with Special Needs, according to which all children have the right to be educated in their neighbouring regular school together with their age‐mates. An important component of this law is that it introduces, for the first time, inclusive education into pre‐primary education. A child can be considered as having special needs only when he/she has attained the age of 3 years or older. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the policy of inclusive education is implemented in pre‐primary schools in ­Cyprus, to investigate whether some children are still marginalized (after the implementation of the new law) and, if they are, to identify factors influencing marginalization or acting as a barrier to inclusion. We also briefly present the results from a study we conducted that supports the discussion of the issues raised in this paper.     

The long‐term effectiveness of anti‐bullying work in primary schools

The DFE Sheffield Anti‐Bullying Project showed that schools can reduce the problem of bullying through the use of whole‐school anti‐bullying policies, curriculum exercises, environmental improvements and individual work with bullies and victims. However, the length of time necessary to plan these interventions meant that, in many cases, the work was not completed when the project evaluations ended. This study investigates the continuing progress made in primary schools in the year after the end of the project. Eleven heads took part in interviews; all schools had made some progress with policy development, and all used some curriculum resources. Most had continued with environmental improvements, but few had used the methods for dealing with bullies and victims. Four schools then administered the Olweus bullying questionnaire to all pupils between ages seven and eleven, 657 children taking part. Two schools had a consistent decline in reported bullying, one experienced a consistent rise and the other an initial fall and subsequent rise. Important factors influencing success appeared to be the extent of the consultation exercise and the date of implementation of the anti‐bullying policy. All four schools had reduced bullying among boys, but three experienced a rise in bullying among girls. Anti‐bullying work may have been influenced by a male stereotype of bullying behaviour: efforts are necessary to raise awareness and promote honesty among girls. No school had raised the proportion of victims who had told staff about being bullied.     

Experiencing multiculturalism in Greek‐Cypriot primary schools

Within the context of a monocultural and monolingual education system, this paper seeks to explore and compare the experiences of Cypriot and non‐Cypriot pupils in Greek‐Cypriot primary schools with culturally diverse pupil populations. The concept of multiculturalism has been introduced only very recently in Cyprus and there has been little research on pupils’ experience and understanding of multiculturalism. Using a narrative approach, this inquiry seeks to provide an understanding of the experience of studying in multicultural primary school classrooms. The pupils of two classrooms, aged between 10 and 12, describe their experience through terms such as new knowledge, religion, language, racism and stereotypes.     

The effect of age‐position and sex on academic performance: a study of secondary schools in Cyprus

The present study examined one aspect of the ‘season of birth’ phenomenon, the variations in educational achievement effected by a child's age‐position within the class. Sex differences in achievement were also examined. An analysis based on a sample of nearly 4,000 high school examination results was conducted. The research analysed the Greek language grade, mathematics grade and the overall ‘high school’ grade, obtained by 17+ year old students who graduated at the end of the 1992/93 and 1993/94 academic years. The presence of an age‐position related effect was found, but in contrast to similar research studies the youngest students, in most instances, outperformed the oldest students. Nevertheless, this finding is consistent with research studies related to the age‐position effect when framed within the context of the Cypriot educational policy of promotion by examination. It was found that the youngest‐born pupils in a year group made up the highest percentage of repeating, i.e. non‐promoted students. However, the findings do suggest a need for a re‐evaluation of the nature of the age‐position effect. It was also found that, in general, female students attained significantly higher grades than their male counterparts.     

Investigating self‐perceptions and resilience in Looked After Children

The perceptions of Looked After Children (LAC; n = 51), their Designated Teachers (DTs), and a sample of non‐LAC (n = 99) were elicited. LAC held more positive self‐perceptions than the non‐LAC, and similarly positive ratings were given for the LAC by their DTs; but LAC held lower career aspirations than the non‐LAC. LAC differed in their levels of resilience, in terms of the number of risk and protective factors identified for each child. Girls had more protective and fewer risk factors than boys. Moreover, a high incidence of protective factors in LAC was associated with positive self‐perceptions, and a high incidence of risk factors was associated with negative self‐perceptions. The implications of these findings for educational psychology practice are discussed.     

The future of the humanities in primary schools – reflections in troubled times

ABSTRACT

This article reflects on the implications for practitioners, researchers and policy-makers of the future of the humanities in primary schools in the light of the challenges facing future generations. There is wide divergence in the four jurisdictions of the UK. The humanities are perceived as important, in principle, though curriculum frameworks differ. However, the status of the humanities is often uncertain, in practice, given the current emphasis on outcomes in literacy and numeracy. There is a lack of robust research on how, and by whom, the humanities are taught. The more theoretical articles suggest that the humanities, broadly conceived, are an essential aspect of young children’s education – to enable a deeper understanding of human culture and identity, and to develop the qualities and values needed in a diverse world. Additionally, curricular breadth is required alongside a realisation that narrowly focusing on propositional knowledge is limiting. While this has implications for the whole curriculum, History, Geography and Religious Education have key roles in meeting these aims and in engaging and motivating young children. A stronger policy steer is called for, to ensure that schools give more priority to humanities education, with greater investment in professional development in Initial Teacher Education and beyond.     

The utilisation of a school self‐evaluation instrument

School quality care has become important in many Western countries. Expectations are high, but little is known about the nature and extent of the use of self‐evaluation instruments within schools. From this longitudinal study into the use of a Dutch school self‐evaluation instrument, it became clear that schools vary in the extent to which they are able to make use of self‐evaluation results. A minority of schools in this study were able to use the self‐evaluation results for developing measures at the school and classroom level to improve the quality of education. Potential causes for the findings and alternatives for promoting the utilisation of school self‐evaluation instruments are discussed.     

The impact of instruction in enhancing teachers’ knowledge of teaching mathematics in some Lesotho primary schools

The quality of mathematics teaching in Lesotho primary education remains one of the vexing problems in the education system. The study investigated how teachers viewed the impact of instruction on enhancing their knowledge of teaching. Data for the study were elicited from the second-year students enrolled for a Bachelor of Education in the 2009/10 academic year at the National University of Lesotho. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The findings show that before instruction, the teachers operated with limited knowledge of teaching. At the end of the course the teachers’ knowledge of teaching was enhanced. Significant change was apportioned to engaging in reflection and teaching for relational understanding. Implications of the findings for the course, teacher education and professional development are also discussed.     

The Role of Everyday Contexts in Learner‐centred Teaching: The practice in Namibian secondary schools

This paper reports on the use of out‐of‐school everyday contexts in Namibian science classrooms. This use is portrayed against the backdrop of an explicit educational philosophy of learner‐centred teaching. Data were collected through audio‐taped teacher–learner interactions and non‐participant field notes in 29 junior and senior science classes taught by 12 teachers in six schools. An existing typology was applied to classify episodes of use of everyday contexts and identify teachers’ pedagogic strategies for their use. The results show that more everyday contexts are used in junior secondary than in senior secondary classes, that only a limited range of types of everyday contexts are used at both levels, and that their use often follows theoretical exposition or teacher questioning. These findings are related to three interpretations of learner‐centred teaching. Recommendations for a fuller implementation of learner‐centred teaching are made.     

Teachers' in‐service training needs in Cyprus

Needs‐identification studies should be systematically conducted to bring clarity to the decisions about the expectations from particular in‐service training schemes. This article aims to present the results of a research study diagnosing teachers' in‐service training needs in Cyprus. For the purposes of the study, questionnaires were distributed to a random stratified sample of schools state‐wide. Findings outline teachers' preferences on aspects of professional development, such as content, teacher participation, efficiency and organization. Despite the resulting diversity of collected views, emerging recommendations focus on the adoption of preferred thematic orientations, the development of alternative forms of in‐service training, the establishment of links with school improvement, the shift of organizational models from the central to the local level and the enhancement of teacher involvement in in‐service training activities. These findings can prove significant in shaping professional development policies within the framework of a recently announced initiative for educational reform in Cyprus.

Il serait indispensable de mener systématiquement des études d'identification de besoins afin d'apporter des clarifications sur les attentes de différents programmes de formation continue. L'objectif de cet article est de présenter les résultats d'une étude de recherche menée dans le but de diagnostiquer les besoins de formation initiale des enseignants à Chypre. A cette fin, des questionnaires ont été distribués à un échantillon stratifié aléatoire d'écoles dans tout l'état. Les résultats schématisent les préférences des enseignants sur des aspects du développement professionnel, tels que le contenu, la participation du professeur, l'efficacité et l'organisation. En dépit de la diversité résultante des points de vue rassemblés, les recommandations présentées se focalisent sur l'adoption d'orientations thématiques préférées, le développement de formes alternatives de formation continue, l'établissement de liens avec l'amélioration d'école, le déplacement de modèles d'organisation du niveau central au niveau local et l'encouragement de la participation des enseignants dans les activités de formation continue. Ces résultats peuvent prouver importants à la formation des politiques de développement professionnel dans le cadre d'une initiative récemment annoncée pour la réforme de l'enseignement à Chypre.

Los estudios de las necesidades‐identificación se deben realizar sistemáticamente para traer la claridad a las decisiones acerca de las esperanzas de la instrucción de esquemas particulares de instrucción interna. Este artículo se propone presentar los resultados de un estudio de investigación diagnostica de las necesidades en instrucción interna de los maestros en Chipre. Por eso, los cuestionarios fueron distribuidos a una muestra estratificada aleatoria de escuelas en todo el país. Las conclusiones resumen las preferencias de los maestros en aspectos del desarrollo profesional, tal como: contento, la participación del maestro, la eficiencia y la organización. A pesar de la diversidad resultante de vistas completas, las recomendaciones que surgieron, enfocan en la adopción de orientaciones temáticas preferidas, el desarrollo de formas alternativas de la instrucción interna, el establecimiento de conexiones con la mejora de la escuela, el cambio de modelos de la organización desde el central al nivel local y el aumento de la participación del maestro en las actividades de la instrucción interna. Estas conclusiones pueden ser importantes en la formación de las políticas profesionales del desarrollo dentro del marco de una iniciativa recientemente anunciada de la reforma educativa en Chipre.

Studien zur Identifikation von Bedürfnissen sollten methodisch durchgeführt werden, um Klarheit zu schaffen hinsichtlich der Erwartungshaltung gegenüber speziellen betrieblichen Berufsförderungsprogrammen. In diesem Artikel möchte ich die Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung betrieblicher Berufsförderung von Lehrern in Zypern darstellen. Im Rahmen der Untersuchung wurden, als Stichproben, Fragebögen an Schulen in ganz Zypern ausgeteilt. Die Resultate zeigen die Präferenzen der Lehrer hinsichtlich Aspekten beruflicher Bildung, wie Inhalt, Teilnahme der Lehrer, Effizienz und Organisation. Obwohl die Ergebnisse unterschiedliche Ansichten aufzeigen, fokussieren sich die präsentierten Empfehlungen auf die Annahme bevorzugter thematischer Zielrichtungen, die Entwicklung alternativer Formen in der betrieblichen Berufsförderung, die Einrichtung von Mitteln zur Verbesserung der Schulen, die Verschiebung organisatorischer Vorbilder von der zentralen auf die lokale Ebene, sowie ein gesteigertes Engagement der Lehrer in der betrieblichen Berufsförderung. Im Rahmen einer kürzlich angekündigten Initiative für die pädagogische Verbesserung in Zypern können sich diese Resultate als bedeutend erweisen für die Herausbildung beruflicher Entwicklungsmethoden.     

Teachers’ perceptions of a voluntary LEA scheme for school self‐evaluation

In 1979, a booklet, Evaluating the School: A Guide for Secondary Schools in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, was published and a limited number were distributed to Solihull schools free of charge. The purpose of the booklet is to provide an agenda for school self‐improvement through systematic school review: its use by Solihull schools is entirely voluntary. This is the report of a survey of the perceptions of Solihull secondary school teachers of the booklet and of school self‐evaluation generally.

Four years after its publication, less than half of Solihull secondary school teachers claimed to have actually seen the booklet, less than a quarter to have read all of it and only about ten per cent to recall its contents at all well.

Attitudes amongst Solihull secondary teachers towards school self‐evaluation as a general notion and (amongst those who claimed to have seen it) towards the booklet are generally positive. Attitudes are particularly positive amongst those in the lower status positions in schools and amongst the less experienced. Despite these favourable attitudes, the evidence from the survey is that little change in schools has resulted from the use of the booklet.     

Primary teachers’ self‐perceptions concerning implementation of the National Curriculum for science in the UK

This paper reports on selected aspects of data, with special reference to science, derived from a survey of primary school teachers as part of the Leverhulme Primary Project at the University of Exeter.

A national sample of teachers (N = 901) across 152 schools was surveyed in order to ascertain teachers’ perceptions of competence and needs with respect to the new National Curriculum in the UK. Initially, data were collected in relation to ten subject areas and generic teaching skills, with provision made for free‐form responses concerning National Curriculum implementation.

Selected aspects of these data, principally related to the National Curriculum core area of science, were subjected to detailed further analysis and are reported. Variables identified from the survey findings, and of concern to science educators, included early subject specialism, years of teaching and gender. These were probed for relationships and significance. The tension between competing National Curriculum requirements for specialist subject knowledge and generalist teaching skills was explored.

Findings have implications for innovation in approaches to staff development to cater for perceived needs, teacher educators and curriculum alignment.     

mLearning in a Europe‐wide network of schools

This paper presents a European Community supported project which investigated whether the use of electronic and mobile technologies in the hands of young learners might engage them in learning activities and start to change their attitudes towards learning. The mLearning system was implemented in a Europe‐wide network of 14 schools with over 500 students and 46 teachers participating in the implementation. In the paper special focus is given to three different mLearning contexts/scenarios implemented within the setting of one of the Europe‐wide network of schools.

mLearning in einem Europaweiten Netz von Schulen

Dieses Papier präsentiert ein von der Europäische Gemeinschaft unterstütztes Projekt, das erforschen sollte, ob der Gebrauch von elektronischen und mobilen Technologien in den Händen von jungen Anfängern diese im Lernen von Aktivitäten anregen und dazu führen könnte, ihre Einstellungen zum Lernen zu ändern. Das mLearning System wurde in einem Europaweiten Netz von 14 Schulen mit mehr als 500 Schülern und 46 Lehrern durchgeführt. In diesem Papier wurde der besondere Schwerpunkt auf drei unterschiedliche mLearning Zusammenhänge/Drehbücher gelegt, die innerhalb eines der europaweiten Netze von Schulen angelegt sind.

Le mLearning dans un réseau d’écoles à l’échelle européenne

Cet article présente un projet soutenu par la Communauté Européenne qui a examiné si l’usage des technologies électroniques mobiles mises entre les mains de jeunes apprenants pourrait les amener à se lancer dans des activités d’apprentissage et commencer à changer leur attitude vis‐à‐vis de l’apprentissage. Ce système de m(obile)‐learning a été mis en place dans un réseau trans‐européen de 14 écoles avec une participation active de la part de plus de 500 élèves et de 46 professeurs. Dans l’article on met un accent particulier sur trois contextes/scénarios de m‐learning mis en route au sein d’un réseau transeuropéen d’écoles.

El mLearning dentro de una red paneuropea de escuelas

Este artículo presenta un proyecto apoyado por la Comunidad Europea en el cual se investigó si el uso de tecnologías electrónicas y móviles por parte de jóvenes alumnos pudiera conducirles a lanzarse a actividades de aprendizaje y empezar a cambiar su actitud con respecto al aprendizaje. Este sistema de m‐learning fue aplicado dentro de una red transeuropea que incluye 14 escuelas con más de de 500 alumnos y 46 profesores participando en la aplicación. El artículo hace hincapie en tres diferentes contextos/guiones de mLearning aplicados dentro de una de las redes transeuropeas de escuelas.     

Teachers’ organisational practices and their perceptions of the benefits of support by withdrawal for mathematics in Irish primary schools

This study was designed to ascertain the organisational practices of learning support teachers and their perceptions of the benefits, if any, of support by withdrawal for mathematics in Irish primary schools. The study reports on the views of a sample of 137 teachers who have postgraduate qualifications in learning support/special education from six designated centres for professional development in this area. As an organisational model for learning support in mathematics, small group/individual withdrawal was the most popular way in which additional support was organised, with 94% of the survey respondents in this study operating this system to some degree. Furthermore, key findings also highlighted that teachers perceived the following as advantages to out-of-class support: learning benefits; enhanced learning space; benefits for certain types of pupils; time benefits; positive contrast with mainstream class; assessment benefits; and greater use of concrete materials. In contrast, only 41% of teachers reported that they provide an in-class service for pupils and class teachers. Barriers to collaboration for in-class support are identified and teachers’ responses to these outlined. The study found large differences between teachers in the amount of support they provided to class teachers, the amount of non-contact time they had for planning and collaboration, and in the range of practices used to carve out time for collaboration. The implications of these findings are then discussed.     

Parents’ perceptions of parent–teacher relationship practices in Dutch primary schools – an exploratory pilot study

This paper shows how parents’ perceptions of parent–teacher relationship practices differ between different types of schools with respect to children’s special needs and the socio-economic status of these children. Using a questionnaire, we compare parents’ views from two special education schools, two at-risk schools serving low SES-children, and two mainstream primary education schools in the southern part of the Netherlands. The theoretical framework is based on Epstein’s Model of Parental Involvement. The results illustrate that parents and teachers in special education and at-risk schools are very much accustomed to ‘two-way communication’, in contrast to mainstream schools, and that this is valued highly by these parents. Furthermore, teachers in special and at-risk schools are more familiar with interacting with parents, involve them more in decision-making and more often co-ordinate homework practice with parents.