The problems this book discusses are the same now as they were 25 years ago: unemployment, poor housing, inadequate facilities, poverty, racism, violence. What is the function of a school in such a situation? Although many schools hold reformist ideals, their practice is constrained by organisational demands. School organisation is based upon a coercive theory of social control which is intolerant of expressions of individuality by teachers and pupils. Needs for individuality may be mistaken for deviance, and deviance is at least in part produced by, or exacerbated by, school organisation. The author maintains that schooling is therefore largely maladjusted to the needs of individuals.

Written by the founder of a pioneering establishment for disruptive boys who had been excluded from mainstream schools and in some cases turned to crime, this book discusses the methods and reasons for success of Red Hill School. It also discusses the causes of disruptive or obsessive behaviour and emphasizes how the therapeutic work of Red Hill has helped the pupils involved to adjust socially and psychologically so that they go on to find personal fulfilment and satisfaction.

First Published in 1998. Increasing pressure and new demands on LEAs, schools and their staff have led to an overall reduction in the number of special schools for children with EBD and a questioning of their place within the range of provision for these pupils. Recent attention has also been drawn by HMCI to the number of these schools which have failed to pass the OFSTED inspection process. This book is based on a national exanimation of special schools providing for pupils with EBD. The authors identify factors associated with good practice and offer advice on how schools can become more effective in providing for the country's most troubled and challenging pupils. They also highlight aspects of successful provision which can be applied in mainstream schools and pupil referral units.