Supported by 20 years of extensive, international research, this approachable text brings invaluable insights into the underlying problems within education policy, and proposes practical solutions for a brighter future.

Stephen Gorard is Professor of Education and Public Policy at Durham University. He is a member of the UK DfE Associate Pool, the British Academy grants panel, the ESRC commissioning panel for Strategic Networks, and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. He regularly gives advice to governments and other policy-makers, and is a widely read and cited methodologist, involved in international and regional capacity-building activities, and used as an adviser on the design of rigorous evaluations by central and local governments, NGOs and charities.