This extensively updated fourth edition by the key author in the field will maintain its place as the most important text on education policy and makes essential reading for all students and anyone interested in education policy more generally.

Introduction: The great education debate (1976-2016); Key concepts: education policy, economic necessity and education reform; Class, comprehensives and continuities: a short history of English education policy; Policy Technologies and The UK government's approach to public service reform; Policy, inequity and advantage; A sociology of education policy: past, present and future.

"Stephen Ball is one of the few academics who can embrace policy, research and learning with a fierce and illuminating critical spirit." Richard Andrews, University of East Anglia "This must-read book is forensic in its analysis and points to the imperative for new thinking on education." Hugh Lauder, University of Bath "This invaluable new edition of this powerful and provocative book offers fresh insights into political context and policy narratives." Phillip Brown, Cardiff University "Informative, wise and angry in equal measure about the continued injustices meted out to students in the guise of 'progress', 'what works' and equity." Pat Thomson, University of Nottingham "My students need a book that introduces them to policy analysis in a rigorous yet accessible manner; this is it." Meg Maguire, King's College London "Policy researchers are deeply indebted to Ball's detailed analysis that underpins the sociological contribution in this book." Helen Gunter, University of Manchester "This brilliant book should be compulsory reading for all sociologists of education everywhere, and for all those interested in education." Bob Lingard, University of Queensland