Book review: Schooling in a democracy: returning education to the public service

Giannis Stefanos Efthymiou reviews the book 'Schooling in a democracy: returning education to the public service' by Richard Riddell (Policy Press, Bristol University Press, 2023, ISBN 9781447362937). Riddell’s latest book takes on to explore the issue of governance in England’s schooling system. Many, especially those from the governmental sector, would be quick to dismiss Riddell’s claims that they lack the knowledge to lead and envision meaningful change. By they, Riddell refers to those who having drawn on neoliberal and neoconservative influences have sought to academise schools and in the process of doing so dismissed local governance systems that had the knowledge of their own communities.