The Good Schools Guide

infobox Book
name = The Good Schools Guide


image_caption =
author = various
country = United Kingdom
language = English
genre = non-fiction
publisher = Lucas Publications
release_date = 1986 - 2008
media_type = Print (Paperback) and Internet
pages =
preceded_by =

"The Good Schools Guide" is a guide to British schools (both state and private), compiled by a team of editors, which according to the official website "comprises some 50 editors, writers, researchers and contributors; mostly parents but some former headteachers." [http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/about-us/about-the-good-schools-guide/the-good-schools-guide-team.html?Itemid=3] The website states that it is "written by parents for parents", and that the editors "do not take money from the schools in the guide, either directly or indirectly." Since the first edition in 1986, the "Guide" has been republished 13 times, and the current edition was published by Lucas Publications on the 29th of January 2008. [http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Good-Schools-Guide-2008/dp/0955282128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220801402&sr=8-1] The chief editor is Ralph Lucas.

Other publications produced by the "Guide" include "The Good Schools Guide - Special Education Needs", "The Good Schools Guide International", "11+ English: A Parent's Toolkit", "A Parents' Guide to Primary School" and "Uni in the USA".

tyle

The "Guide" has established a reputation for a brisk, conversational and often irreverent style of review: the website states that because writers do not accept payment from the schools being reviewed, the "Guide" is "in a position to be outspoken, to write and to advise [readers] impartially, without fear of being biased or having a conflict of loyalties." [http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/about-us/about-the-good-schools-guide/introduction-to-the-gsg.html?Itemid=3] The "Times Educational Supplement" stated that the "Guide" is "...untroubled by the sensibilities of schools and ... cavalier in the face of squawks from those it has offended". [http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/product-description/0955282128/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books]

Reviews

"The Daily Telegraph" reviewed the "Guide" in the following terms: "Unique among the many guides available, it sets out to give frank answers to the questions every parent asks." [http://www.britishgermanassociation.org/special.php?pageno=260] Similarly, the "Financial Times" called the "Guide" "One of the best aids for parents...informative and witty." [http://tbpweb.tbpcontrol.co.uk/tbp.web/customeraccesscontrol/Home.aspx?collection=10019282] The "FT" has also described the "Guide" as "one of Britain's leading guides to schools". [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3efc3f34-7bab-11dd-b839-000077b07658,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F3efc3f34-7bab-11dd-b839-000077b07658.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ft.com%2Fsearch%3FqueryText%3Dgood%2Bschools%2Bguide%26aje%3Dtrue%26dse%3D%26dsz%3D%26x%3D12%26y%3D6]

"The Good Schools Guide - Special Education Needs"

"The Good Schools Guide - Special Education Needs" was originally produced by the "Guide" as a rescource for parents looking for schools for children with special needs. The format is very similar, with all articles and reviews (including general help articles and other rescources) published in paperback as well available online. The "Special Education Needs" guide was first published in 2004.

"The Good Schools Guide International"

"The Good Schools Guide International" is an online rescource also edited by the "Guide" with details of international schools in over 35 countries. The "GSGI" is aimed at British parents who are living abroad. The "GSGI" is also mostly written and edited by expatriates. [http://www.gsgi.co.uk/site]

References

External links

* [http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk Official site]
* [http://www.gsgi.co.uk/site Good Schools Guide International official site]