Education Policy Unravelled examines the nature of contemporary education policy, its purposes and political formation. This thoroughly revised edition charts the continuity of policy development along neo-liberal lines, taking a historical perspective broadly from the 19th century and towards the emerging position of the current Conservative government in the UK. This new edition now includes: - the developments in education policy which took place under the Coalition government administration between 2010-2015; - a brand new chapter on policy developments in early childhood education and care; - a brand new chapter on inclusive schools, special educational needs and disability; - new activities and illustrative case studies to challenge and inform students' thinking and understanding around key policy issues; - discussion of new research and recent legislation to illuminate important and emergent issues in education. Written in an accessible style, this is an invaluable guide for engaging with education policy as it uses a variety of key elements of policy theory in order to support students through some of the complexities involved in contemporary policy analysis and critique.

'Education Policy Unravelled' examines that nature of contemporary education policy, its purposes and political formation. It charts the continuity of policy development along neo-liberal lines, moving from New Labour to the emerging position of the Coalition government.

Education Policy Unravelled examines the nature of contemporary education policy, its purposes and political formation. It charts the continuity of policy development along neo-liberal lines, taking an historical perspective and moving from New Labour to the emerging position of the Coalition government. Contrary to popular belief about recent radical change in education policy, the author team draws attention to the fact that there have been strong similarities and nuanced disagreements between successive modern governments. Written in an accessible style, the book contains a number of activities and pedagogical features designed to appeal to students, to inform thinking and understanding around key policy issues. This is an invaluable guide for engaging with education policy as it uses a variety of key elements of policy theory in order to support students through some of the complexities involved in contemporary policy analysis and critique.

Education Policy sees 12 philosophers of education critique current and recent UK educational policies relating to higher education and faith-based education, assessment, the teaching of reading, vocational and civic education, teacher education, the influence of Europe and the idea of the ‘Big Society’. Twelve philosophers of education subject elements of current and recent UK educational policy to critique Forthright and critical, the contributors are unafraid to challenge current orthodoxies Offers thought-provoking insights into modern education policy Wide-ranging topics cover higher education and faith-based education, assessment, the teaching of reading, vocational and civic education, teacher education, the influence of Europe and the idea of the ‘Big Society’

This edited collection is a Festschrift to Helen M. Gunter, a leading scholar in the field of education policy and leadership. We draw on the concept of the Festschrift as a collection of papers, or chapters, that recognise, honour, and celebrate the work and contributions of an esteemed academic. Gunter’s work has opened up the field of critical education policy and leadership studies and provoked, if not revitalised, scholarly thinking about the origins, structures, patterns and impact of the field. Gunter’s personal commitment to intellectual leadership of the field and public education resonates across all her scholarly works. The core intention of this unique collection is to recognise Gunter’s scholarly contributions as an academic, practitioner and public intellectual. Invited authors have been asked to reflect critically on ways in which Gunter’s work and intellectual support have influenced their own research, teaching and academic engagement. In their reflections, contributors not only speak to the intellectual work of Gunter but suggest how they have taken this work forward and how this has advanced the field of education as well as the production of knowledge.

In this introduction to educational policy, practice and professionalism, the authors focus first on providing an historical overview of English policy from the state's first interventions in education through to Thatcherism and the election of the Blair government. Chapters then explore the key contemporary policies of recent times and offer a critique on how they have worked in practice, with reference the hysteria that often surrounds education policy. An important theme is media representation of educational matters and the effects this has on the teaching profession. Commentaries and case studies are presented throughout providing an accessible link to what it was really like to learn, teach and live at the time the policy was in place. This new edition now includes: - an account of the measures taken by the Coalition Government of 2010-15, examining the Coalition's continuities with the previous administration whilst also exploring departures from previous thinking and practices; - updated references and case studies throughout to represent new research and legislation since the first edition; - an extended discussion of globalization and global 'policy borrowing'; - further coverage of social justice theory, including a perspective on identity theory and the role of education in the development of identity and the marginalisation of individuals and groups; - a new historical chapter covering the period 1945 to 1997; - a summary of the development of the curriculum and a critique of the 2014 National curriculum, as pioneered by Michael Gove; and - a new conclusion setting out the trajectory of current policies and how this may affect educational practitioners. This is essential reading for all undergraduate students studying education policy and practice.

The work of Michel Foucault has become a major resource for educational researchers seeking to understand how education makes us what we are. In this book, a group of contributors explore how Foucault’s work is used in a variety of ways to explore the ‘hows’ and ‘whos’ of education policy – its technologies and its subjectivities, its oppressions and its freedoms. The book takes full advantage of the opportunities for creativity that Foucault’s ideas and methods offer to researchers in deploying genealogy, discourse, and subjectivation as analytic devices. The collection as a whole works to makes us aware that we are freer than we think! This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Education Policy.