The current article addresses two key questions about the convergence of education policies in the European Union (EU). The authors argue that the open method of coordination (OMC) brings to national policy making a particular set of ideas about education, such as an emphasis on the contribution of education to building competitive economies. Finally, the paper suggests – on the basis of a preliminary exploration of the implementation of education OMC measures in the United Kingdom and Slovenia – that education OMC policy ideas resonate to varying degrees in ‘old’ and ‘new’ member states.