State and Education Policy: The Academies Programme

Helen M. Gunter is Professor of Educational Policy, Leadership and Management at the University of Manchester, UK.

'This is an incredibly important book on an issue deserving of close scrutiny. It offers precisely the kind of deep analysis that should be mandatory before ill-considered strategies are embarked upon by ideologically-driven governments. It raises crucial questions central to the role of the state, civil society, and the place of private interests in educational policy and school reform.' John Smyth, Research Professor of Education, University of Ballarat, Australia 'The Academies programme in England enjoys strong political support from economic neo-liberals. The evidence in its favour is mixed, at best. Helen Gunter's The State and Education Policy sets out the ideological, political, legal, historical and empirical basis of the programme. The collection is informed, coherent and critical; the contributions are scholarly and readable. It is altogether very impressive.' David Hartley, Professor of Professional Learning, University of Birmingham, UK

• Preface Francis Beckett / Introduction: Contested Educational Reform Helen M Gunter / 1. Academies and the Law David Wolfe / 2. Local Government Against Local Democracy: A Case Study of a Bid for Building Schools for the Future Funding for an Academy Richard Hatcher / 3. The Birth of Norwich's First School Academy: A Case Study John Elliott / 4. Academy Consultation Meetings: Local Discourse on a National Policy Kirsten Purcell / 5. Academies in the Public Interest: A Contradiction in Terms? Alan Dyson and Harriet Rowley / 6. From Reality to Vision: The 'Birth' of The Petchey Academy in Hackney David Daniels / 7. What Works? An Empirical Assessment of Strengths, Weaknesses and Next Steps for the Academies Initiative Judy Larsen, Valerie Bunting and David Armstrong / 8. Are Academies Working? Stephen Gorard / 9. 'Rapidly improving results': Penetrating the Hype of Policy-based Evidence Terry Wrigley / 10. Academies, Policy Networks and Governance Stephen J Ball / 11. Joining up the Dots: Academies and System Coherence Ron Glatter / 12. The New Enterprise Logic of the Academy Programme Brian J. Caldwell / 13. International Perspectives on Academies: Lessons Learned from Charter Schools and Choice Options Around the Globe Ellen Goldring and Madeline Mavrogordato / 14. Academies and the Myth of Evidence Based Policy: Limits and Possibilities Denis Gleeson / Conclusion: Public Education and Academies Helen M Gunter / Index