This article examines aspects of the monitoring role of academic middle managers insecondary schools since the implementation of the Education Reform Act of 1988,drawing on the perceptions of middle managers. The data were collected from a largescalepostal survey of middle managers in three local authorities and three case-studyschools. Middle managers acknowledge the need for management tasks, including themonitoring of colleagues teaching, to be part of their role but still experience difficultiesin fulfilling this task. One suggested cause of this difficulty is the fact that the departmental team is perceived by middle managers to be against the monitoring of its work.
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