Education

Children spend a considerable proportion of their childhood in school—a phenomenon that is relatively recent historically but which is now taken for granted as a ‘normal’ part of modern childhood(s). This tells us something about the significance of education not only for children but also for the wider society. For this reason, the role of education in children’s lives will be explored through a sociological lens, outlining key elements of the education system that shape children’s childhoods, influencing their experience, not only in their present lives as children but also in their future lives as adults. The entry foregrounds issues related to power and equality in children’s school lives, as well as the factors that influence their engagement with and achievement in school.