The author considers how it is that 'equity' and 'risk' can call into question the ecology of the school, and suggests that failing to follow a holistic pathway produces solutions that ultimately fail those we intend to assist. She looks briefly at schooling as a process of social production and reproduction, before moving on to the notion of risk. She then establishes some principles for the development of school based programs that might make a difference, then looks at some school culture and structure issues that might assist