This book highlights decisions governments have to make about their public education systems, the options they have before them and the consequences of their decisions. As well as covering issues such as values, curriculum, teacher training, structures and so on, the book addresses education planning for epidemics, pandemics and disasters.

Brian Hudson is Emeritus Professor and former Head of the School of Education and Social Work (2012¿16) at the University of Sussex, Honorary Professor and former Associate Dean for Research at the University of Dundee (2009¿12) and currently Senior Professor at Karlstad University, Sweden. His particular research interests are in mathematics education, ICT and learning, curriculum studies and subject didactics. He is a board member and former chair of the Teacher Education Policy in Europe (TEPE) ( https://twitter.com/TEPEnetwork ); was the main organiser of the WERA ( www.weraonline.org ) International Research Network on Didactics ¿Learning and Teaching and is currently an Associate Editor of the Journal of Curriculum Studies. He was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2004 and Honorary Network Membership of the European Education Research Association ( https://eera-ecer.de ) Network 27 on Didactics¿¿ Learning and Teaching in 2016.

Marilyn Leask has held roles in central and local government, universities, schools and research institutes. She is visiting Professor at De Montfort and Winchester Universities, UK, and is committed to supporting international collaboration between teachers and educational researchers for the benefit of learners everywhere. In 1992, she initiated the Learning to Teach in the secondary school series of textbooks which she co-edits. She is co-chair of the Education Futures Collaboration Charity which oversees the MESHGuides initiative ( www.meshguides.org ) addressing the UN¿s SDG 4, and with Professor Younie and Ulf Lundin from Sweden, initiated the European SchoolNet in 1995 ( www.eun.org ). She is an elected board member of the Council for Subject Associations and the Technology Pedagogy and Education Association. She has previously held elected roles on the British Educational Research Association national council and the national council Universities Council for the Education of Teachers.

Sarah Younie is Professor of Education Innovation and previous Director of the Institute for Education Futures at De Montfort University. She sits on ICET (International Council on Education for Teaching) and is the UK BERA (British Education Research Association) Convenor for Educational Research and Policy Making Special Interest Group. She is a Trustee and founder member of the Education Futures Collaboration (EFC) charity and MESH (Mapping Education Specialist knowHow) project, which provides research evidence to inform teachers¿ professional practice, and represents MESH on the international UNESCO Teacher Task Force panel. MESH contributes to UN SDG4. She has been involved in international research on technologies in education for UNESCO, EU, UK Government Agencies, Local Authorities and educational charities. As the UK Chair of the National Subject Association of IT in Teacher Education (ITTE) she has submitted evidence for Parliamentary Select Committees. Professor Younie is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the ¿international Journal of Technology, Pedagogy and Education.

Section 1 An Education Service for the Future: Values and Principles 1 Towards a Learning Education System? Globalisation, Change, Improvement and Accountability in Uncertain Times 2 Aims and Values: Direction with Purpose 3 Developing Your Vision: Principles and Implementation Challenges Section 2 England: A Case Study, A Vision and A Cautionary Tale 4 A "National Education Service": What Can We Learn From the Past? 5 Politics Aside: From Fragmentation to Coherence 6 Education England: From Chaos to Consensus Section 3 Issues of Social Justice and Inclusion 7 Social Mobility: A Working Class View 8 Selection by Wealth, Ability and Aptitude, and Faith: Good for a Country or Not? 9 School Segregation in England and the Logic of Exiting from the Public Education System 10 Special Education Needs and Disabilities 11 Adult and Further Education: The Impact of Austerity on Life Chances and Well Being Section 4 Curriculum, Assessment, Leadership and Accountability 12 The Curriculum: Developing Powerful Knowledge and Creative Knowhow 13 National Assessment Choices 14 Leadership, Innovation and Change 15 An Alternative Approach to Accountability and Inspection: Evaluation for Improvements in Finnish Teacher Education 16 Accountability Systems for Schools: Coercion or Cooperation? Section 5 Teacher Education 17 Reframing the Professionalism of Teachers 18 Initial Teacher Education: What Matters Most and What Has Worked Well 19 CPD, Knowledge Services and Research: 21st Century Solutions Section 6 Policy Options and Consequences 20 Policy Options and Consequences: What Has to be Done, When and With Whom 21 Education in Emergencies: pandemic/disaster planning for education sector continuity