When learning to teach, practical experience in the classroom is as essential as learning from others and being able to reflect on your own learning and performance. Equally important is the ability to critically evaluate learning and teaching. This new, extensive, core text from Learning Matters tackles questions like: What drives schools and what challenges them? What can we learn from other countries? Does curriculum really matter? How do teachers manage behaviour? How do I prove that my children are learning? What does mastery really look like? Discussing these and many more, it comprehensively covers professional studies modules and goes beyond to support trainees on placements and in their learning on the course. Learning features throughout have been designed to help students develop their understanding, broaden their perspectives, think more critically and apply theory to practice. These include: Case Studies to apply learning to real-life school contexts. Key Readings to encourage wider reading, broaden perspectives and offer practical ideas for the classroom. Key Theory features introduce and summarise big ideas, theories and research. Critical Questions direct reflection, help students engage with what their reading and encourage critical responses. Classroom Links highlight good practice, provide practical ideas and show how to implement these in the classroom. Assignment features offer helpful points to consider and practical advice for writing assignments on chapter topics, which act as great starting points.