Key competencies are a major focus in the latest issue of set. There is an exploration of how culture and context influence the way the key competencies are interpreted; how the key competencies can sit alongside subject-related learning; and a case study of one young student’s co-constructed learning pathway. Other articles discuss integrating ethics into primary school science, the development of statistical numeracy in primary schools and a close-up look at the instructional leadership of secondary school principals. Plus our regular features and a new section, Q&A, in which a researcher answers a question from a classroom teacher.