All submissions should be made online at the British Educational Research Journal Manuscript Central Site. New users should first create an account. Once a user is logged onto the site submissions should be made via the Author Centre.

Authors should prepare and upload two versions of their manuscript. One should be a complete text, while in the second all document information identifying the author should be removed from files to allow them to be sent anonymously to referees. When uploading files authors will then be able to define the non-anonymous version as "File not for review".

Articles should normally be between 5000 and 8000 words, and each paper should be accompanied by up to six keywords. Drafts of papers which can be accessed on individual/personal websites will be regarded as unpublished. However 'working papers' or 'formal reports' on institutional or quasi-institutional websites which are specifically designed to publicise findings and act as dissemination vehicles will be regarded as 'previously published'. Authors should ensure that papers submitted to the journal are substantially different from such working papers and reports, summarising and referring to them as appropriate, but not repeating them verbatim.

Manuscripts should be typed on one side of the paper, double spaced, with ample margins, and bear the title of the contribution, name(s) of the author(s) and the address where the work was carried out. Each article should be accompanied by an abstract of 100-150 words. Abstracts should be accurate summaries including the rationale for the article, methods employed (if relevant in empirical reports) and conclusions drawn. The full postal and email address of the author who will check proofs and receive correspondence and offprints should also be included. All pages should be numbered. Footnotes to the text should be avoided. Sponsorship of the research reported (e.g. by research councils, government departments and agencies, etc.) should be declared.

Non-discriminatory writing: Please ensure that writing is free from gender or ethnic bias. Authors might wish to note the BERA Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research.

Contributors will normally receive a decision on their article within 12 weeks of its receipt by the Editor.

Tables and captions to illustrations: Tables must be typed out on separate sheets and not included as part of the text. The captions to illustrations should be gathered together and also typed out on a separate sheet. Tables and figures should be numbered by Arabic numerals. The approximate position of tables and figures should be indicated in the manuscript. Captions should include keys to symbols.

Figures: Please supply one set of artwork in a finished form, suitable for reproduction. Figures will not normally be redrawn by the publisher.

References: References should be indicated in the typescript by giving the author's name, with the year of publication in parentheses. If several papers by the same author and from the same year are cited, a, b, c, etc. should be put after the year of publication. The references should be listed in full at the end of the paper in the following standard form:

Journal
Smyth, J. & Hattam, R. (2002) Early school leaving and the cultural geography of high schools, British Educational Research Journal, 28(3), 375-398.

Book
Whitty, G.(2002) Making sense of education policy: studies in the sociology and politics of education (London,Paul Chapman).

Chapters in a book
Zukas, M. & Malcolm, J. (2002) Pedagogies for lifelong learning: building bridges or building walls?, in: R.Harrison, F. Reeve, A. Hanson & J. Clarke (Eds) Supporting lifelong learning. Vol. One: Perspectives on learning (London, Routledge).

For online documents: Standler, R. (2000) Plagiarism in colleges in the USA. Available online at: www.rbs2.com/plag.htm (accessed 6 August 2004).

Titles of journals should not be abbreviated.