There is a real need at present to engage as widely as possible in discussion about education with the aim of arriving at a new consensus. This inquiry can contribute to that, as it raises fundamental questions about the purpose of education and how it should best be conducted in the present context.

Education is not only about preparing young people for their working lives. As work is very important for most people, occupying a large part of adult life, providing an income and a sense of purpose and collectively supporting the national economy, it is a very significant function of education to prepare young people for it, but there are other very important tasks too. Our analysis is set out below in the section about the purpose of education, and is based on our vision of an inclusive education system set out in the ASCL Blueprint for a Self-Improving System.

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