Rethinking social issues in education for the 21st century: UK perspectives on international concerns

This text revisits key social issues and controversies in education.

There are many social issues currently on political and governmental agendas, both in the UK and other countries - from safeguarding, childhood obesity, bullying and mental health, through to widening participation.

Some of these issues relate to children and young people and are of concern to those working and researching in education, while others relate to higher education.

The boundaries between the academic disciplines of politics, sociology, economics, psychology, and education are porous.

The contributions here illustrate how common interests and collaboration can assist in our understanding of complex social issues, the evaluation of current governmental responses, and the promotion of ideas about the way forward into the 21st century.