The book consists of a range of selected extracts, focused on pupil cultures and organised around sections dealing with social divisions (gender, ethnicity, etc.), pupil adaptations and pupil perspectives. Many of the standard writers in this area of sociology are represented (Ball, Woods, Fuller, etc.) and this could be a valuable source of information (and possibly inspiration) for any student doing project work in this area of the course.

An engaging, USA-based, study exploring the experiences of black and white, working-class, women as they returned to various forms of adult education. An interesting read in its own right, the book's structure nevertheless provides numerous opportunities for extracts to be read and discussed within the classroom. In some cases it might also provide inspiration for student projects.

The emphasis here is on inequality (class, gender and ethnicity), with further sections dealing with the role of education in society (Functionalist and Marxist arguments) and the historical development of education in Britain (including a discussion of recent developments). Selected readings are dotted throughout the text and data response type exercises are also included (although some of these are less than useful - a recurring problem in modern textbooks). There's also the old Sociology Review staple of examination questions and students answers (something I'm not a great fan of, since I think this type of exercise is probably best done with your own student's work). Overall, however, this is a well-thought-out book that makes a useful addition to this area of the course.

A huge text that encompasses just about every aspect of education in Britain (from the hidden curriculum, through ideologies of schooling and the role of education systems to life chances), it's main value to A-level teachers and students is probably the clear and concise section summaries it includes. It also has questions for discussion (which are also potentially useful essay questions) and some selected activities. Finally, there's a short and lucid section on postmodernism and education that's well worth reading (which may, in itself, be a first - or is this just a bit of post-modern irony?).

If you're looking for a comprehensive treatment of education and social change in Britain from 1964 onwards, you could do worse than this book. While it's not a text that A-level students would be expected to read, it does provide a wealth of useful information - both theoretical and statistical - that could be adapted for - and woven into - A-level teaching.

A huge collection of 50+ readings from a variety of writers. These are presented in standard "Reader" format with few concessions to modern forms of layout / presentation. As such, it's probably more of an undergraduate text, but it represents a useful collection of up-to-date theories and arguments in the Sociology of Education (for example, Mike Apple's article "What Postmodernists' Forget..." is a real tour-de-force on curriculum development and the rise of New Right thinking in (post) modern America).