Key Issues in Education Policy
- Stephen Ward - University of Bath Spa
- Christine Eden - University of Bath Spa
Education Studies: Key Issues
'Education Policy is increasingly complex and opaque - this timely book brings clarity and reason to bear and is an ideal starting point for students and teachers struggling to understand the political world in which they work' - Professor Stephen J Ball, Institute of Education, University of London
What effect has two decades of intensive state direction and government involvement had on education?
Designed for Education Studies students who have probably grown up in this context of government intervention, this book deconstructs accepted notions and provides readers with the resources to discuss critically the role of the governments in education and schooling. The book examines government policy in a series of key areas, such as the curriculum, market forces, educational inequality and race issues. Throughout it considers the political and economic factors in education policy, introducing some of the fundamental concepts required to analyse the ideologies of education and the state. The authors explore the role of education policy in the context of the general direction of government policy, politics and the economy, making links with other policy areas such as health, social services, home affairs and foreign policy. They also explain the nature of government policy in terms of a globalization and the knowledge economy.
As my course is about post compulsory education this text has only partial relevance. It will however be a useful supplemental source.
This interesting and highly readable text that encourages reflection as well as providing a good grounding in contemporary education issues.
This book provides a good overview of educational policy in the UK. It does not expect the reader to have prior knowledge and is therefore suitable for my undergraduates. At the same time it provides an interesting contemporary debate and it provide depth on a range of issues. Due to the clear structure of the book my students will find it easy to navigate their way to the parts that are of most interest.
This is essential reading for any student studying education. It's up-to-date with policy & practice and places this in historical context, giving a very meaningful understanding of recurring issues.
A well written book that covers all the key issues in education policy
This is a very well-written, comprehensive textbook, which, basically, covers pretty much all that the students need to know on my module!
This is an excellent text which will be adopting as essential reading for our 1st year U?G policy student next year. We will be using it as a recommended text this year as it is too late to add to the reading list as essential.
This is a good book for the background and underpinning knowledge of the issues in further education and how to relate policy to practice.
