This thesis has two main aims. First, to establish whether the strengthening in 1988 of the
right of parents to choose a secondary school for their child has led to increased travel to
out-of-catchment schools in a case study area. Second, to identify the extent of socio-spatial
variation of patterns and trends in choice of school. Secondary school transfer data relating
to over 16,000 children for 1991 and 1993 to 1995 was analysed in a Geographical
Information System (GIS). One hundred and sixty two parents of children about to transfer
to secondary school were interviewed with the objective of revealing the contextual factors
underlying the patterns and trends of pupil movements identified in the course of the GIS
analysis. The practice and outcomes of parental choice were examined at four scales: the
parent, the neighbourhood, the school and the LEA Area. Whilst the main value of this
thesis lies in its presentation of empirical evidence of the socio-spatial outcomes of school
choice, the results are placed in the context of relevant theoretical perspectives.
The study finds that the proportion of children transferring to out-of-catchment secondary
school has increased between 1991 and 1995 but that any increase in parental choice is
constrained by a variety of factors that interact in complex ways to produce substantial
socio-spatial variation in its expression. It is concluded that policy and practice relating to
school choice can substantially affect educational equity and efficiency. It is recommended
that the operation of local education markets be more closely monitored by LEAs and that
GIS analysis, as used in this study, is an important tool for this purpose.University of Plymouth