Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reviews the policy, leadership, governance and management issues for education settings. It considers policy formation and the range of different policy initiatives generated by central government which education leaders are obliged to implement. The book also considers one of the major challenges faced by all education leaders: recruiting and maintaining an appropriate staffing team to meet the needs of learners. It explores how equality legislation actively supports learners and learning and how ethical working practices support learner achievement. The book examines how successive governments have worked to limit centralisation while increasing organisational accountability through various government agencies including Ofsted. It also explores some of the issues raised by globalisation, what it means to education settings and how leaders can work to develop ethical global practices in their settings for the benefit of all learners.