Written in an easily accessible style, each chapter of this book illuminates deeper lying issues about the nature of schooling, learning, leadership, research, and the impact of globalisation on the lives of schools, teachers, children and families. Each of the seven themes, or lenses, through which the education system is viewed, will be of value to teachers and school leaders, as well as to academics and students on education programmes.

John MacBeath is Professor Emeritus at the University of Cambridge, UK, Director of Leadership for Learning: the Cambridge Network and Project Director of the Centre for Commonwealth Education.

In the Beginning: Dancing on the Demons Part I: The First LensPolicy Making: Ideology, Insiders, Outsiders and Dissenting Voices.Policy Perspectives and Priorities: Hearing Voices Part II: The Second Lens Research and the Myths of Scientific Rigour. Telling Stories: From Dutiful Compliance to Defiant Risk Taking Part III: The Third LensInternational Agencies and Agents Provocateurs. Cogitamus Ergo Sumus: We Think therefore We Are Part IV: The Fourth LensAcademics Conferring and the Power of Place. In Pursuit of Congress: True Believers, Pragmatists and Heretics Part V: The Fifth LensNew Enlightenment and a University for Children.'Notschool': Freeing the Children...and Other Political Prisoners Part VI: The Sixth LensBeing and Becoming a Teacher, and the End of Idealism.Back to the Future: A New Storyline Part VII: The Seventh LensGoing to School: Plus ca Change? Testing Classroom Learning - Connect, Extend and Challenge. Epilogue: In Hindsight and Retrospect.