Professor of Educational Studies and Director of the Department of Educational Studies, University of Oxford, 1989-2003. From 2003 to the present, Lead Director of the Nufffield Foundation Review of Education and Training for England and Wales (the final report to be published in May 2009). Recent research has included the development in schools of 'restorative justice' - the way in which schools and police work together to resolve conflict and prevent young people becoming criminalised.

Recent books are: John Dewey: Philosopher of Education for the 21 st Century, (London: Continuum 2007); Philosophy of Education: Aims, Theory, Common Sense and Research, (London: Continuum, 2004). Recently elected as President of the Socialist Education Association of Great Britain. Awarded the Aga Khan's Annual Award of Distinction, 2007.