1st Edition

Improving Education Policy Together How It’s Made, Implemented, and Can Be Done Better

By Nansi Ellis, Gareth Conyard Copyright 2024
    160 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    160 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    By focusing on the relationships involved, Improving Education Policy Together will change how policy-making in education is approached and showcase alternative models that will lead to more sustainable and effective practices.

    The authors analyse the state of educational policy-making in England. They particularly reflect on the relationships of the different people and organisations involved – policy-makers such as politicians, civil servants, and unions – and explain how these interact with the wider world. Building on the experiences of the authors on different sides of the process, the book explores the reasons why education policies fail the very sector they are intended to serve. By considering aspects of policy-making in different countries, the authors highlight more effective ways of building relationships between decision-makers and those affected by educational policy. This book explores, as an alternative, long term, systems-led, and relational policy-making, and maps out a range of unique models for change.

    Of interest to those involved in developing and influencing policy in government, this book will be essential reading for political parties, unions, civil servants, and charities, as well as teachers and leaders who believe they should be much more influential in the policies that affect their working lives and seek to adopt a better approach to making education policy.

    1. Why do people think what they think?
    2. How do organisational histories and dynamics shape decisions?
    3. Navigating wider complexity
    4. What can we learn from the recent past?
    5. What can we learn from international examples?
    6. What can we learn from different ways of thinking?
    7. Towards a better model
    8. Better Policy-Making Toolkit
    9. The toolkit in action

    Biography

    Nansi Ellis is a freelance education policy consultant and a school governor, formerly Assistant General Secretary (AGS) for the National Education Union and previously for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), leading education policy development.

    Gareth Conyard is co-CEO of the Teacher Development Trust (a charity providing professional development support for teachers) and was formerly a senior civil servant at the Department for Education.

    “Cooperative, iterative, and long-term: that’s what the authors of this fascinating book would like to see much more of in the world of education policymaking, and so say all of us! It is absolutely no surprise that my ex-colleague Gareth - along with Nansi - have written something so thoughtful, engaging and practical.”
    Jonathan SlaterFormer Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education, UK.