This course aims to introduce students to a critical orientation toward the study of education policy. The focus in critical policy studies in education is on practices of re-reading and defamiliarization of education policy, in order to open up new spaces for thought and action, especially surrounding issues of equity and inclusion/ exclusion. This entails examining the processes and practices of education policy within broad cultural, social, economic and political contexts and in local, national, regional and global settings. Contemporary theories used to examine education policy will be introduced, and applied to issues in education policy across all phases and sectors of education – including schooling and higher education. This course will be of interest to those students working in the field of education, and those students who wish to extend their understanding of policy in other fields/sectors.