Official publications
& statistics
Official publications cover all government and parliamentary material, e.g., command papers, acts, circulars and OFSTED reports. They are therefore a very important part of educational research.
Searching for official publications
There are several guides that can be used to track down official publications:
The Stationery Office - Monthly/Annual catalogue held on the shelves opposite the Enquiry Desk.
The Stationery Office publishes the material of Parliament, government departments and other official bodies. It publishes ca 8500 titles each year. These catalogues list those items published by The Stationery Office including parliamentary and statutory instruments, public general and local acts and also details of selected public, university and other libraries where The Stationery Office publications may be consulted. To find material on education, you can consult the alphabetical index or find the DfEE in the classified section.
Education and Employment Publications held on the shelves opposite the Enquiry Desk.
This bulletin is published monthly and is a listing of official publications related directly to the work of the Department for Education and Employment. A wide body of material is included, e.g., OFSTED reports, press notices, statistics. They are listed by subject area. Also included is a list of addresses, which you can contact, to obtain any of the documents mentioned.
Catalogue of British Official Publications not published by The Stationery Office held on Quick Reference at 015.42 CAT
Included in this catalogue are publications from organizations financed or controlled completely or partially by the British government. This can include periodicals, publicity material and leaflets. The catalogue is arranged in an alphabetical sequence by corporate author and then alphabetically by title. There is a subject index at the back as well as a list of addresses, which you can contact to obtain any of the publications. Excluded from this catalogue are publications published by The Stationery Office. It is therefore advisable to use the two catalogues in conjunction to gain a complete coverage of British official publications.
Tracing statistics
Educational statistics are a useful source of information that gives an impression of educational developments and trends over time. To trace relevant statistics, try using the following:
Statistics of Education: England and Wales 1963 - QR 370.942 EDU
Annual, published in five separate volumes. These contain information of pupils and teachers in each LEA, by government Office region. This information includes class size, special educational needs, ethnic minority pupils etc. The introductory passage can help you decipher each table by explaining the principles behind them.
Education and training statistics for the United Kingdom 1967 - QR 370.942 EDU
Annual, sub-divided by country. This item provides an overview of statistics on educational and training in the UK, including expenditure, teaching staff, post-compulsory education and training, qualifications, destinations, further and higher education and international comparisons. Again, there is an introductory passage before each section that gives you key facts about the section and explains each table.