Educational standards have figured prominently in recent debates on educational policy across the world. This is the first time such a distinguished group of scholars have come together in the UK to discuss the different perspectives on this issue. The notion of standards is agreed to be defined within there social and historical contexts, making an accepted definition of acceptable standards a difficult, if not impossible task.
Harvey Goldstein is Fellow of the British Academy, and Professor of Statistical Methods, Institute of Education, University of London. Anthony Heath is Fellow of the British Academy, and Professor of Sociology and Official Fellow, Nuffield College, Oxford.