It is time for a new narrative on schools in Australia. Analysis of approaches in 13 countries, including most of the world’s top performers, provides 15 benchmarks against which Australia’s performance is assessed. Building on findings in The Autonomy Premium, the challenge is to design a system in which all those who work in or for schools are fully professional. This challenge extends to early childhood and innovative approaches to polytechnic education. This book will be essential reading for policymakers, school leaders, and researchers who wish to write the new narrative.