This interactive, discussion-based course aims to give an overview of the English educational system, looking at contemporary issues in education as they affect teaching in the UK, the US and globally.

Each week’s session addresses a main theme. Recently, these have included: testing; inclusion; current practice in education, contrasting US, UK and global systems; the National Curriculum and creativity in the curriculum; gender in the classroom and the teaching profession; and the representation of teachers and education in literature and the media. Each theme is set in its theoretical and policy context, taking full account of students’ experiences in their school placements, and is supported by video extracts, articles and readings.

Students are expected to undertake extensive research using the ASE library, recommended websites and The Times Educational Supplement (a weekly journal), in order to inform class debate and support their written papers.