WINNER, SECOND PRIZE, AT THE STANDING CONFERENCE OF STUDIES IN EDUCATION ANNUAL BOOK AWARDS 'a seminal book' - Anne Corbett, Times Educational Supplement 'a courageous and challenging book' - Roy Lowe, History of Education 'a vital contribution to our understanding of the changing role of the state in education provision. It should be read widely.' - Clyde Chitty, Forum 'the first serious, all-embracing, socio-historical, cross-national analysis of this whole phenomenon.' - Brian Simon 'learned, thought-provoking and well written.' - Patrick Harrigan, Historical Studies in Education 'The book is eminently readable, and well argued and documented.' - Witold Tulasiewicz, Comparative Education 'Green has provided a work of such depth and scope that historians and sociologists might ignore at their own considerable loss.' - Dianne Snow, Comparative Education 'Andy Green has written a very good book indeed.' - Roger Dale, Journal of Education Policy