Description

Book Synopsis

A national system of education cannot function without policy. But the path to practice is seldom smooth, especially when ideology overrules evidence or when ministers seek to micromanage what is best left to teachers. And once the media join the fray the mixture becomes downright combustible.

Drawing on his long experience as teacher, researcher, government adviser, campaigner and international consultant, and on over 600 published sources, Robin Alexander expertly illustrates and illuminates these processes. This selection from his recent writing, some hitherto unpublished, opens windows onto cases and issues that concern every teacher.

Part 1 tackles system-level reform. It revisits the Cambridge Primary Review, an evidence-rich enquiry into the condition and future of primary education in England, which challenged the UK government's policies on curriculum, testing, standards and more besides. Here the reform narratives and strategies of successive gov

Trade Review

"I found it inspirational because, along with the disappointments and frustrations, there is another feature which shines through every page: the author’s passionate concern for the world’s children and their education. It is, above all, the record of a man who has devoted his life, whatever the difficulties, to making a difference." - Derek Gillard, Forum



Table of Contents
  1. Introduction

  2. PART 1 – ABOVE THE PARAPET

  3. A tale of two reviews

  5. Health of a nation

  7. Success, amnesia and collateral damage

  9. Triumph of the eristic

  11. What works and what matters

  13. Evidence, mediation and narrative

  14. PART 2 – CURRICULUM CONVOLUTIONS

  15. Reform, retrench or recycle?

  17. Epistemic imbroglio

  19. Entitlement, freedom and minimalism

  21. Neither national nor a curriculum

  23. Beyond the reach of art

  25. True grit

  27. Curriculum capacity and leadership

  28. PART 3 – SPEAKING BUT NOT LISTENING

  29. Promise and politics of talk

  31. Evaluating dialogic teaching

  33. The unquestioned answer

  35. Dialogic pedagogy in a post-truth world

  36. PART 4 – EDUCATION FOR ALL

  37. Towards a comparative pedagogy

  39. World beating or world sustaining?

  41. Moral panic and miracle cures

  43. In pursuit of quality

Bibliography

Education in Spite of Policy

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 23 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Robin Alexander

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      View other formats and editions of Education in Spite of Policy by Robin Alexander

      Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      Publication Date: 31/12/2021
      ISBN13: 9781138049871, 978-1138049871
      ISBN10:
      Also in:
      Education / Educational sciences / Pedagogy Philosophy and theory of education Primary and middle schools

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      A national system of education cannot function without policy. But the path to practice is seldom smooth, especially when ideology overrules evidence or when ministers seek to micromanage what is best left to teachers. And once the media join the fray the mixture becomes downright combustible.

      Drawing on his long experience as teacher, researcher, government adviser, campaigner and international consultant, and on over 600 published sources, Robin Alexander expertly illustrates and illuminates these processes. This selection from his recent writing, some hitherto unpublished, opens windows onto cases and issues that concern every teacher.

      Part 1 tackles system-level reform. It revisits the Cambridge Primary Review, an evidence-rich enquiry into the condition and future of primary education in England, which challenged the UK government's policies on curriculum, testing, standards and more besides. Here the reform narratives and strategies of successive gov

      Trade Review

      "I found it inspirational because, along with the disappointments and frustrations, there is another feature which shines through every page: the author’s passionate concern for the world’s children and their education. It is, above all, the record of a man who has devoted his life, whatever the difficulties, to making a difference." - Derek Gillard, Forum



      Table of Contents
      1. Introduction

      2. PART 1 – ABOVE THE PARAPET

      3. A tale of two reviews

      5. Health of a nation

      7. Success, amnesia and collateral damage

      9. Triumph of the eristic

      11. What works and what matters

      13. Evidence, mediation and narrative

      14. PART 2 – CURRICULUM CONVOLUTIONS

      15. Reform, retrench or recycle?

      17. Epistemic imbroglio

      19. Entitlement, freedom and minimalism

      21. Neither national nor a curriculum

      23. Beyond the reach of art

      25. True grit

      27. Curriculum capacity and leadership

      28. PART 3 – SPEAKING BUT NOT LISTENING

      29. Promise and politics of talk

      31. Evaluating dialogic teaching

      33. The unquestioned answer

      35. Dialogic pedagogy in a post-truth world

      36. PART 4 – EDUCATION FOR ALL

      37. Towards a comparative pedagogy

      39. World beating or world sustaining?

      41. Moral panic and miracle cures

      43. In pursuit of quality

      Bibliography

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