Tribute to Caroline Benn

Melissa Benn, daughter of Caroline and Tony Benn, is a writer and journalist who contributes regularly to The Guardian and other national newspapers and magazines. Her books include Public Lives (a novel) and Madonna and Child: Towards A New Politics of Motherhood; Clyde Chitty is Professor of Policy and Management in Education and joint Head of the Department of Educational Studies at Goldsmith's College University of London. He has written extensively on education, including Thirty Years On with Caroline Benn.

• Foreword by Tony Benn; Introduction by Melissa Benn and Clyde Chitty; Part 1. The tradition of Caroline Benn; Including essays by Tony Benn and Melissa Benn; Jane Challice, Sixties idealism and life at Holland Park School; The Hillcote Group of Radical Left Educators, 1989 - 2000; Part 2. Primary education; Michael Armstrong, The changing primary school; Ros George, Equality and inclusion and the primary school curriculum; Part 3. Comprehensive education; Roy Hattersley, The case against selection; Janet Holland, Youth transitions; Max Morris, Comprehensive success story; Jenny Thewlis, What happened to the comprehensive ideal of inclusion for all? Sally Tomlinson, Comprehensive success and the bog standard government; Geoff Whitty, Comprehensive education in a new climate; Part 4. Post-compulsory education; Pat Ainley, Caroline Benn's radical solution for higher education; Glenn Rikowski, The privatisation of education; The future of further education; Part 5. General education issues; Clyde Chitty, Eugenicist theories and concepts of ability; John Clay, Promoting race equality in schools; Chris Searle, Asylum seekers and refugee children; Mike Cole, When will we ever learn? Andy Green, International education perspectives; Maurice Plaskow, The process curriculum

"This delightful book, co-edited by its subject's daughter, has two themes. One is Caroline Benn's extraordinary life; the other one of her passions - the comprehensive ideal." Book of the week, TES - reviewed by Tim Brighouse; "Caroline Benn made an immense contribution to public life through her work on educational politics and the comprehensive movement. She was a committed democrat, socialist and internationalist and this book of essays dedicated to her life and work was the idea of Professor Clyde Chitty, her friend and colleague over many years, as a labour of love and to recognise her achievements. The fact that so many people in her field have contributed chapters is evidence of the influence she had no those who knew her and worked with her." Tony Benn, Foreword; "This fine book will serve both as a fitting tribute to the life and work of Caroline Benn and as a means of furthering the educational causes she championed." Richard Aldrich, Emeritus Professor of History of Education, Institute of Education, University of London"