In his inaugural Presidential Address, given to the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Conference 2013 at the University of Sussex, Ian Menter addresses a number of issues concerning educational policy and the contributions that educational research might make to policy development. As ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ approaches its fortieth anniversary, he also sets out some of the responsibilities that the association faces in ensuring the health and quality of education research in Britain.