Gender equality has been a major educational theme for the past two decades and has become interwoven with other policy themes, including those of marketisation and managerialism. Contributors to this strong collection are key researchers in their fields and seek to address the following questions: * What patterns are discernible in the educational attainment of girls and boys over the past two decades? * To what extent are changes attributable to gender equality policies? * What form have gender equality policies taken in different parts of the UK? * What has been the impact of European equality policies? * How have gender equality policies been experienced by particular groups including pupils from ethnic minority and working-class backgrounds? This book aims to take an overall look at how significant have been the changes in experiences, aspirations and culture of girls and boys and male and female teachers. It explores how attempts to improve equal opportunities in education have fared and examines the tensions and contradications in recent policies.

'This book must be read to gather all the complexities and nuances of gender relations in schools brought to light by the varied research. The authors throughout give many indicators for future research, especially the urgent priority for investigating educational processes as well as performance.' - British Educational Research Journal

Jane Salisbury is Lecturer in Education at the University of Wales, Cardiff. Sheila Riddell is Professor of Social Policy at the Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research, University of Glasgow.