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The paper begins by outlining recent reforms of initial teacher training in France, changes aimed at moving French teacher training away from its traditional focus on subject knowledge and pedagogic theory towards a stronger emphasis on classroom practice issues such as teaching and learning strategies and motivating reluctant learners. It goes on to examine the perceptions of some French trainee teachers; for example, how well prepared they felt for the challenges ahead and their training and support whilst on placement. Their responses reveal concern about the appropriateness and variability of some of their training, particularly school-based elements and mentor support. The responses also raise some interesting comparisons with experience in the UK and other European countries, all of whom are debating matters such as teacher accountability, societal expectations of the education system and how teachers should be trained. These comparative issues will be the focus for further research.

This paper reports on the findings of a funded research project that explores the implementation of the Every Child Matters (ECM) agenda within the Greater Merseyside area. The research team explore how primary schools and external agencies are currently working together to deliver this agenda in order to highlight areas of good practice as well as potential sites of conflict. The aim is to develop an effective response to the challenges currently faced by schools and other agencies in meeting the requirements of the principles underpinning the ECM agenda. The research project implemented a mixed-method case-study approach, using questionnaires, policy documentation and stakeholder interviews as data sources. Responses were elicited from members of school staff, parents and professionals from the education welfare, health and social services to gauge their perceptions of how well they felt schools and agencies were responding to the challenges of implementing the ECM agenda. There is strong evidence of effective multi-agency working, particularly in relation to children who are 'at risk' or have special educational needs, and in terms of contributions to the curriculum and life of the school for all pupils. There are also clearly identified areas for further development, for example on shared operational frameworks. There are also concerns that poor resourcing and a lack of practical support could hamper the embedding of reforms.

The article compares the development of Citizenship Education in the United Kingdom and Romania since 1989, the year when Communism was overthrown in several Eastern European countries including Romania (and when, coincidentally, Citizenship made its first formal appearance in the English National Curriculum as a cross-curricular theme). Findings are presented from two case study high schools, one in the UK and one in Romania. Staff and students offer views on the nature of citizenship, on how Citizenship Education might be taught in school and on issues influencing the development of a programme to help students become effective individuals with a commitment to community participation in its broadest sense. The analysis develops the view that, if Citizenship Education is to make a genuine contribution to the creation of a vibrant, participatory democracy in which young people are fully involved, the structures and processes via which Citizenship Education is devised and delivered should themselves reflect the principles of democratic participation.