This course draws from theory, history, politics, sociology and cultural studies to provide you with an overview of the perspectives, philosophies and debates that are currently informing education. The focus of this course is on young people and on their participation and experiences in education and contemporary society. The course calls upon you to critically engage with and reflect upon educational policy and practice, along with what you have experienced on WIL placements, to develop your own understandings of education and its purposes and effects (academically, socially, culturally and globally). The course will ask you to question the extent to which individual teachers can impact upon their students' educational outcomes and requires you to reflect on the importance of whole school environments in generating participation and wellbeing.