Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/11408
Title: Policy in practice: Enabling and inhibiting factors for the success of suspension centres
Contributor(s): Moore, Alison Jane (author); Paterson, David (supervisor); Harrington, Ingrid  (supervisor)orcid 
Conferred Date: 2012
Copyright Date: 2011
Open Access: Yes
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/11408
Abstract: The overarching question for this research is: "What are the differences between 'espoused educational policy' and 'policy in use' in relation to suspension centres?" (Cohen, 2000; Schön, 1995). To answer this question, stakeholders were asked their opinions based on research sub-questions: what are the best things happening with suspension centres or what should be maintained with suspension centres?; what needs to be improved with suspension centres?; and what evidence is there that suspension centres are meeting the Purpose and Goals as outlined in the Guidelines? Disruptive student behaviour continues to be a serious issue in schools. Suspension centres are a recent government initiative to help address this issue in NSW government schools. The centres are for students on long suspension from school who have been identified as being likely to benefit from a structured program to assist their successful return to schooling. Schön (1995) makes the case for those people who design policy to "get interested" in what the policy means to practitioners in the field as the ways in which the policy is used can be very different from the "policy intention" (p. 33). Schön's concerns could be very pertinent in regard to the suspension centres which have never been formally evaluated. The research was conducted in two phases. Phase One, semi-structured interviews, were implemented with stakeholders including students, their parents, mentors, suspension centre staff, and regional personnel associated with the centres, while students were at the centres. Responses revealed that the best things happening or things that should be maintained were that: students were learning skills related to academic activities and behaviour and that suspension centre staff were using appropriate approaches and had good skills in managing students with disruptive behaviour. Such practices enabled the success of suspension centres.
Publication Type: Thesis Doctoral
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 160809 Sociology of Education
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 390203 Sociology of education
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 930403 School/Institution Policies and Development
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 160205 Policies and development
Rights Statement: Copyright 2011 - Alison Jane Moore
HERDC Category Description: T2 Thesis - Doctorate by Research
Appears in Collections:Thesis Doctoral

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