This is one of those works that really challenges.

"At primary school, whatever we did we did for a reason...." "Now, in high school, it just doesn't seem to make sense what we're doing. It's just like playing games to fill in time".

It is with this simple student observation that this work strikes at the heart of the debate around the need for negotiated curriculum and the wider reform in schools. At times, some of the student observations are uncomfortably accurate for those who have spent any length of time in the classrooms of our high schools.

In just over ten chapters Johnston and Dowdy focus on the voices of students, parents and teachers, the learning communities we often ignore in such debates and outline the "work required" approach to negotiated curriculum. Some detailed primary reserach, some excellent real-life examples and the right amount of theory make this work challenging yet accessible.

A wonderfully simple yet detailed work that should be on the required reading of curriculum committees!