According to the research in the field, there are several key indicators of school effectiveness: school capacity and ability to build capacity; a strong and supportive school culture/climate/ethos; and strong leadership. Chapters 4 and 5 present six descriptive case studies of state secondary schools, each focusing on the policies of the school, the mission statements and contents of the school website, the Ofsted inspection reports, and any published responses to the reports. The chapter concludes with a discussion of how school inspectors report on the effectiveness of the school in relation to the key indicators of school capacity and ability to build capacity; a strong and supportive school culture/climate/ethos; strong leadership; and the evidence they present to support their judgements. Chapters 6 and 7 go on to present a critical evaluation of theory and research into school leadership, school improvement, and school effectiveness, identifying the neoliberal assumptions on which this research is based.

The case studies provide an outline of how schools position themselves as organisations providing an education that allows learners to function effectively in a neoliberal economic, social, and cultural environment, present themselves in relation to quality benchmarks, attempt to fulfil their legal duties and responsibilities, and to satisfy Ofsted that they are providing a high-quality education that enhances learners’ aspirations and prepares them morally and socially for life in modern Britain.

Schools produce a wide range of documents, both in printed form and online, that are readily available in the public domain: school vision statements, press releases, social media such as Facebook and X, advertisements, newsletters, and policies, etc. In addition, there is a wide range of documents published about schools such as Ofsted reports and examination results. The data collection for this research was conducted based on case studies of six schools, making use of documentary analysis drawing on published school policies, mission statements, Ofsted reports, examination results, local newspaper reports, and other relevant documents. School policies, mission statements, and welcome statements from the headteacher may not be an accurate reflection of day-to-day life in the school, but they provide organising principles that reflect the goals, objectives, and hopes of the school and the assumptions the school makes about the right approach to achievement, character, and inclusion, and how it would like the school community to be seen to function.