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New Policy Spaces of Education: a seminar University of Surrey, 16th October 2009 Part of an ESRC Seminar Series on ‘New Spaces of Education: the changing nature of learning in the 21st Century’ Since the foundation of the UK welfare state in the middle of the twentieth century, the spaces within which education policy has been formulated have tended to be highly centralised within Whitehall. Over recent years, however, scholars have suggested that the largely national and state-focussed nature of these spaces has undergone significant change. Firstly, it has been claimed that the increasing involvement of the private sector (through, for example, public-private partnerships, the Academies programme and the use of management consultants within government departments) has shifted the locus of policymaking. Secondly, it has become apparent that state autonomy in relation to education policy-making is increasingly limited by trends and initiatives at the European and international level. This seminar will engage with these debates and explore their implications for education professionals and students, as well as for policy actors themselves. We anticipate that the seminar will be of particular interest to: academics and postgraduate students from the disciplines of education, geography, social policy and sociology; professionals involved in the delivery of education; and education policymakers. Confirmed speakers: • Dr Kalervo Gulson, Department of Educational Studies, University of British Columbia • Professor Martin Lawn, Centre for Educational Sociology, Edinburgh University • Dr Molly Warrington, Department of Geography, Cambridge University • Dr Laura Engel, George Washington University, Washington DC • Policy-based discussant: Jon Coles, Director-General of Schools, Department for Children, Schools and Families To reserve a place at this seminar, please contact Dr Rachel Brooks ([log in to unmask]) We have a number of bursaries available to cover the travel expenses of doctoral students who would like to attend the seminar. If you would like to apply for one of these, please contact Rachel, specifying the amount you are requesting (assuming a second class train fare). For further information about the seminar series see: www.surrey.ac.uk/politics/NewSpacesofEducationIndex.htm