In common with most of the industrialized countries, France has undertaken an ambitious program of education reform over the last fifteen years. This book uses key extracts from contemporary writing to examine exactly how and why that process has happened, focusing on all states of the education system. The book covers the main characteristics of school reform in France, its aims and objectives, the desirability of and politics surrounding the reform process, and explorations of classroom practice, the changing role of parents, standards in schools, and the curriculum. Because of its high quality, wide and up-to-date coverage of the area, this book will be a vital reference for all those working in this field.