Curriculum Evaluation in Schools - Practical Guide for Educators

In this review of Curriculum Evaluation in Schools, the authors' goal is clear: to provide a thoughtful, practice-focused resource for educators and researchers who must plan, conduct or interpret curriculum evaluations. The book is best for school leaders, curriculum coordinators and education researchers who want a balanced discussion of insider and outsider evaluation approaches and a practical source book of strategies. Its main strength is the combination of theoretical debate and concrete evaluation techniques drawn from work in the UK, Australia and the US.

Key Features

• Balanced discussion: The text disentangles professional, ethical and political issues so readers can weigh multiple perspectives when designing evaluations.
• Insider and outsider approaches: It compares the potential of internal and external evaluation methods, helping teams choose or combine approaches sensibly.
• International examples: Case material from the UK, Australia and the US supplies real-world context that illustrates how methods perform in different systems.
• Practical techniques: The book presents specific strategies and techniques that can be adopted or adapted by practitioners planning curriculum studies.
• Link to curriculum action: It addresses how evaluation findings can influence teaching and learning, so the focus remains on improving classroom practice.

Who It's For

This book suits educational researchers, headteachers, curriculum planners and inspectors who need a reasoned, scholarly but accessible treatment of curriculum evaluation. Those running school-based evaluations will find the practical source material especially useful for designing instruments and procedures.

It is less suitable for readers seeking a step-by-step workbook of templates or those wanting contemporary policy analysis post-1988, since the editions date from 1983 and 1988 and the emphasis is on conceptual and methodological clarity rather than current policy detail.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear comparison of insider and outsider approaches offers practical guidance for mixed-method evaluation designs.
• International examples give transferable insights across different school systems.
• The book links evaluation to curriculum action, helping readers focus on teaching and learning impact.

Cons

• Published in the 1980s, it does not reflect the most recent policy changes or contemporary digital methods.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Curriculum Evaluation in Schools remains a valuable methodological and conceptual resource for practitioners and researchers who need to understand the trade-offs between insider and outsider evaluation and want practical techniques informed by international experience. Despite its vintage, it is good value for readers seeking rigorous discussion and usable strategies to link evaluation to classroom action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include practical tools for school evaluations?
Yes. It offers a practical source book of strategies and techniques that can be adapted for school-based evaluation projects.

Is the content up to date with current education policy?
No. The editions date from 1983 and 1988, so readers should supplement it with recent policy literature and digital methodology sources.

Which countries inform the examples in the book?
The book draws on experience and evidence from the UK, Australia and the United States.