Tag: Andrew Wilkins

Should we be worried about controversial government plans to do away with parent governors in schools?

Should we be worried about controversial government plans to do away with parent governors in schools?

The government recently announced a series of changes to the oversight and governance of schools, with the most controversial concerning the ‘academisation’ of all English secondary schools, and what may amount to the abolition of the role of the parent governor. Here, Andrew Wilkins casts his eye over the changes – and in particular the […]

The recent history of accountability in the English state school system has been one of struggle over meaning and participation

The recent history of accountability in the English state school system has been one of struggle over meaning and participation

Recent years have seen significant changes in the realm of school accountability. Responding to earlier debate on Democratic Audit, Andrew Wilkins discusses the profound ideological struggles at the heart of reforms. The professionalization of school governance that comes with greater autonomy present a challenge to traditional forms of accountability and may affect engagement with important local […]

Book Review: Local Democracy, Civic Engagement and Community: From New Labour to the Big Society

Book Review: Local Democracy, Civic Engagement and Community: From New Labour to the Big Society

This accessible book includes an analysis of local democracy, civic engagement and participation across a range of policy areas and in the context of debates around accountability, legitimacy, sustainability, localism and the ‘big society’. Drawing on a wide range of examples, Hugh Atkinson argues that local democracy is a vibrant terrain of innovation, civic engagement and participation, […]