Failing and the possibility of failing are everyday experiences in higher education, yet rarely discussed. This text explores failure from different vantage points: its social and political context; its implications for teachers and learners; and the practices and procedures of the assessment, support and administrative systems surrounding failing students in higher education. The text integrates discussions of drop-out, retention and student progress alongside the notion of academic failure. While management of student "through-put" is of interest to politicians, educators have to manage and understand failing as an important part of the process of learning. This work incorporates new empirical data along with practitioner experience and analyzes practice issues within a policy framework that takes into account past and current political trends.

Author Biography

Moira Peelo is Study Consultant in the Higher Education Development Centre and Research Associate in the Department of Applied Social Science, Lancaster University. Her research interests are in student learning and marginality in education, health and crime. Terry Wareham is Director of the Higher Education Development Centre, Lancaster University, responsible for staff, educational and organizational development within the institution. Her research interests are in the area of higher education teacher development.