Reynolds (1995) summarises much research as indicating seven major factors in creating effectiveness:
1 The nature of the leadership by the headteacher (setting the mission, involving staff).
2 Academic push or academic press: high expectations of what students can achieve, creating large amounts of learning time (including homework) and entering large numbers for public examinations.
3 Parental involvement (parents as partners in and supporters of education).
4 Pupil involvement (in learning and other aspects of the school).
5 Organisational control of pupils (reinforced by cohesion and consistency in the school together with collective ownership of practices and effective communication).
6 Organisational consistency across lessons in the same subjects, different subjects in the same years and across years.
7 Organisational constancy (limited staff turnover).