ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters in this book. The book talks about some changes that took place in secondary schools during the 1980s. It highlights issues which will return to haunt us unless the National Curriculum is implemented in a manner which takes account of the needs, the good practice and the variety of learning environments. The book focuses on the uses that are made of settings outside the school. It considers ways in which the teachers themselves have been learning, and moves on to discuss approaches to staff development. The book describes some of the pupils' own viewpoints and judgements about being involved in schooling which did not seem like 'normal school'. The schools should be more open to their communities and the resources of the communities should be used in developing the alternative curriculum.
