Introduction

Restructuring is a concept that, in relation to school improvement and school effectiveness, has increasing currency in the United States. It may be that some of the misconceptions about and abuses of the concept have deterred British educationalists from giving restructuring the attention that it deserves. In a number of American states or districts within states restructuring has been made mandatory. This is clearly putting the cart before the horse, since restructuring is a process that facilitates change, and it is only when decisions have been taken on what changes would best advance the learning in a school that restructuring is to be brought into the equation.