This course explores the wider historical, political and social context of Australian education and critically examines the social and societal factors that shape students' experiences and outcomes. The course examines different theorizations of sociopolitical factors, such as class, gender, ethnicity, indigeneity, culture, and sexuality and analyses how these factors relate to issues of access, equality and diversity. The course also explores the sociopolitical contexts of the development and implementation of curriculum and assessment and analyses how recent trends towards marketization of education and the implementation of national curriculum and assessment policies interact with concerns about access, equity and diversity.