Within this edited volume, expert authors from around the globe explore the meaning(s) of educational accountability within their national and local contexts. They investigate the function, operations, and, more importantly, the outcomes of educational accountability, inspection, and testing within schools. Lastly, they challenge the paradigms and practices of accountability policies to offer new possibilities for educational effectiveness and improvement, with a particular focus on possibilities for school leadership. This book is key reading for researchers, policy makers, and current and future school leaders engaged with school effectiveness and the management of school improvement.