What is analytical philosophy of education (APE)? And what has been its place in the history of the subject over the past 50 years? In a recent essay in "Ethics and Education" (Vol. 2, No. 2, October 2007) on 'Rival conceptions of the philosophy of education', Paul Standish described a number of features of APE. Relying on both historical and philosophical argument, this article critically assesses these eight points, as well as another five points delineating APE in the Introduction to "The Blackwell guide to the philosophy of education".