Critical Perspectives on Educational Policy and Change

In a time of rapid educational transformation, Critical Perspectives on Educational Policy and Change offers a bold, critical and creative exploration of leadership through the lenses of ideology, history, economics, and politics. This collection brings together a diverse group of scholars, from early career researchers to established academics, interrogating how power relations operate within educational leadership amid shifting policy landscapes.

Structured around three temporal axes (hindsight, insight, and foresight) and situated within various contexts - from early years, schools, further education colleges and higher education - chapter authors examine leadership in education across past legacies, present complexities, and future aspirations. From the enduring impact of neoliberal reforms to the possibilities of future policies on decolonisation and social justice, each chapter provides a theoretically rich and methodologically diverse example of leadership in action.

Whether you are new to the field or seeking to deepen your critical perspective, this book is an essential resource for educational researchers, policymakers, and practitioners committed to transformative change within education.

Karen Healey is a Lecturer in Education at Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK. She is currently the co-convenor for BERA’s special interest group Educational Leadership.

Carol Azumah Dennis is a Professor of Education, Policy and Practice at the Open University. She is currently the Faculty Director of Praxis, the Centre for Scholarship and Innovation.

Judy Chandler is a Senior Lecturer in Education, Leadership and Management at the Open University and the Programme Leader for the MA and Education and MA in Childhood and Youth.

Deborah Outhwaite has held senior roles in secondary, post-16, and system leadership in England. She is Chair of BELMAS 2023-2026 and is currently at the Institute of Education at the University of Liverpool and is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the LSE.