This book is an essential guide for all education studies students, providing you with a clear overview of the key issues within your first year. It is an introductory text that encourages critical engagement, to enable you to develop a detailed understanding of the power and importance of education. The issues are presented in four main sections - Theoretical Perspectives; Policy; Society and the Individual; Inside the School - helping you to make the connections between the different themes. 'Stop, Think and Do' boxes play a key part throughout the book, encouraging you to critically reflect on both the issues within the chapters and within Education as a whole. Other features include: Introductions to each chapter to link the themes discussed in each section A summary of the key issues in each chapter for reflection Examples and case studies Links to key readingsThe book helps you to extend your understanding of educational issues beyond schools to other phases of educational provision.