Introduction: Levelling Up and Sustaining Educational Achievement

Abstract

The performance of High Performing Education Systems featured in this book has captured international attention and developed a deep curiosity about the reasons behind their success among policy-makers. This introductory chapter brings to the fore five major themes that form the common denominators of the case studies in this book. These themes range from the focus on teachers, their preparation and professional development to paying attention to the tail-end performers, to developing an education system that is both equitable and of high quality, to the danger of over-emphasising international benchmarking exercises and, to ensure systemic coherence across key stakeholders across the education system. These broad themes provide a framework and lens to examine these systems from within.