ABSTRACT
Selection of a new school is a fundamental and life-changing process for all children, whoever makes the selection and however the choice is made. A new direction in school choice research has emerged, which adds to the earlier mixture a more detailed investigation of the processes involved in choice, played out at the level of the family. A picture of the schools themselves was built up from official publications, visits, observation of lessons, interviews with selected staff, and analysis of the literature sent to prospective parents. Educational legislation, the increased marketisation of education, and demographic and economic trends, invite further development of earlier work on school choice, and make a “snapshot” of the situation particularly appropriate at present. The school was in a poor state of repair with falling pupil rolls and increasing debt. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
