Book excerpt: Containing invaluable insights from the original director of the National Literary Strategy (NLS) and its director of training, this book provides the only systematic exploration of the reform programme. A vital introduction and critical appraisal for pracititioners and students, The Literacy Game examines the origins, evolution and impact of the NLS, and provides a fully comprehensive contribution to the teaching of literacy and the management of educational change. This illuminating text: sets out the political background and context to literacy education in England over a decade from 1996 to 2006 explains and appraises the rationale and design underpinning the NLS, thereby rebutting some of the folk-lore that has built up around it provides an example of the principles and practices of large-scale system change links the NLS to wider global research on system change and educational reform evaluates the contribution of the NLS in advancing knowledge of the literacy curriculum in English and the development of pedagogy as a whole considers the impact and consequences of the NLS on standards of literacy. The Literacy Game is an enlightening book which will appeal to all policy makers and academics who are keen to know what did and did not work in the NLS and why.