SHORT‐COURSE NEIGHBOURHOOD COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS—AN L.E.A CASE STUDY

Abstract Propositions made about short‐course comprehensive schools and about neighbourhood schools were tested in an investigation of all the 12‐16 schools in a single LEA characterised by high levels of educational expenditure and an egalitarian ideology. In terms of provision and academic performance the schools compared favourably with national standards and with other types of comprehensive school. Schools serving working class areas were not associated with lower levels of provision and had lower pupil/teacher ratios. Given that the existing method of financing schools favours those with large proportions of older pupils it is suggested that equality of provision between neighbourhood schools is more easily achieved when the schools are short‐course rather than all‐through, 11‐18, schools.