This detailed, informed and critical account of contemporary education in Scotland examines each of the main sectors in depth: early years, primary, secondary, further and higher education.

This fifth edition of Scottish Education provides a detailed, informed and critical account of contemporary education in Scotland, examining each of the main sectors (early years, primary, secondary, further and higher) in depth, and scrutinizing the historical, cultural, political, and socio-economic dimensions within which schools, colleges and universities operate. The book is a substantial update on the previous edition, the contributors having drawn on up-to-date research and professional analysis to give fresh insights into recent educational developments - in particular during the period from the Independence referendum in 2014, through the complexities of the post-Brexit years. These have been years when education has faced difficult challenges and the writers analyse the many factors affecting teachers' efforts to operate during uncertain times. Featuring some 67 new authors, this latest edition contains forthright and informed commentary on every aspect of education and is essential reading for anyone concerned to know how education currently 'works' in Scotland. Reviewing the first edition, Olga Wojtas described it as 'an ambitious and formidable tome ... accessible to non-specialists ... [with] a sharp, critical edge' (THES). The second edition was said by Frank Pignatelli to be '... a text that is authoritative yet accessible, scholarly yet provocative, definitive yet iconoclastic' (TESS). Of the third edition, Gordon Kirk wrote '...there are numerous chapters where the level of analysis is impressively high, which are models of lucidity, perceptive and stimulating, and well (in some cases, elegantly) written' (TESS). Writing about the fourth edition, Steven Cowan said: 'This edition is new and fresh and therefore definitely worth purchasing as your standard reference for matters concerning Scottish Education.' (SER). Tom Bryce is Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Strathclyde. Walter Humes is Honorary Professor of Education, University of Stirling. Donald Gillies is Dean of the School of Education, University of the West of Scotland. Aileen Kennedy is Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Edinburgh. Cover design by: Tom Malone, Trademark (tm) Design [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-3784-4 barcode