In the Western world, education policy has increasingly become a local matter. Localities and schools adjust education to meet specific local needs, fragmentation and diversity. Globalization and the greater emphasis on knowledge in society however, also embody strong streamlining tendencies. This edited volume examines and compares the way in which local education systems in Britain and Sweden are created in the interplay between common tendencies of change and particular local conditions.Preface PART I: INTRODUCTION Introduction; C.Hudson & A.Lidstr?m National School Policy Changes in Britain and Sweden; C.Hudson & A.Lidstr?m PART II: CHOICE, MARKETS AND EDUCATION Local School Choice Policies in Sweden; A.Lidstr?m School Markets and Locality: An Exploration of Difference in the English Education Marketplace; S.Gewirtz PART III: SCHOOLS AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY Education and Local Development Policies in Sweden; A.Lidstr?m In the Company of Schools: Schools and Local Development Strategies in Britain; C.Hudson PART IV: THE GOVERNANCE OF LEARNING Changes Leadership Roles in Swedish Schools; O.Johansson & L.Lundberg Learning Cities for the Learning Society; S.Cara, C.Landry & S.Ranson PART V: CONCLUSION Conclusions; A.Lidstr?m & C.Hudson IndexSUE CARA Associate Director, National Institute for Adult Continuing EducationSHARON GEWIRTZ Lecturer in Social Policy, The Open UniversityOLAF JOHANSSON Associate Professor of Political Science, and Chair of the Centre for Principal Development and Director of the National Head Teachers Training Programme, Ume? University, SwedenCHARLES LANDRY Director of the Research Consultancy, COMEDIALEIF LUNDBERG Director of Studies, Head Teacher Training Programme, Ume? University, SwedenSTEWART RANSON Professor of Education, School of Education, University of Birmingham