School Matters by Peter Mortimore, Pamela Sammons, Louise Stoll, David Lewis, and Russell Ecob is a landmark longitudinal study of fifty inner London primary schools that reshaped the way educators, policymakers, and researchers think about school effectiveness. Following nearly 2,000 children through their junior years, the authors systematically disentangle the influence of family background from the impact of the school itself, demonstrating that schools do make a measurable difference in children’s progress. Combining statistical rigor with vivid description, the study illuminates how curriculum, teacher expectations, leadership, and classroom practice interact to shape learning outcomes across diverse social and cultural contexts.

Moving beyond test scores, School Matters also explores pupils’ attitudes, behavior, and experiences of school life, offering one of the first comprehensive portraits of how organizational structures and school climate contribute to effectiveness. By showing why some schools succeed better than others in fostering both cognitive and non-cognitive development, the book not only challenges long-held assumptions about the limited role of schools but also provides practical guidance for improvement. Its findings remain foundational for educators committed to equity and excellence, offering a blueprint for building more effective schools even in the most challenging urban environments.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.