Under the 1988 Education Act, schools became autonomous bodies with control over their own budgets. This process of decentralization of school management has been followed by other countries worldwide. Based on empirical research incorporating data from over 800 schools and collected over three years, this book takes self-management as its starting point. From this, the book examines how management systems have changed across a range of countries, often with very different natures and purposes. It also studies in detail the particular developments in the UK system, which has undergone one of the more radical changes. From their findings, the authors draw out the implications for management practice and the effect this has on pupils, managers and all those employed within schools.