Rosemary Webb and Graham Vulliamy are members of the Department of Educational Studies at the University of York. In this article they report on a study of 50 schools in England and Wales which sought to examine views of the changing role of the contemporary primary-school headteacher. In so doing, they identify and discuss growing tensions between heads' administrative and professional roles and between collegial and top-down management styles.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Acker, S. (1990) 'Teachers' Culture in an English Primary School: Continuity and Change', British Journal of Sociology of Education11(3): 257-73.
2.
Acker, S. (1991) 'Teacher Relationships and Educational Reform in England and Wales', The Curriculum Journal2(3): 301-16.
3.
Alexander, R. (1992) Policy and Practice in Primary EducationLondon: Routledge.
4.
Alexander, R., Rose, J. and Woodhead, C. (1992) Curriculum Organisation and Classroom Practice in Primary Schools, a Discussion PaperLondon: DES.
5.
Andrews, K. and Jacobs, J. (1990) Punishing the Poor: Poverty under ThatcherLondon: Macmillan.
6.
Atkin, J., Bastiani, J. and Goode, J. (1988) Listening to Parents: An Approach to the Improvement of Home-School RelationsLondon: Croom Helm.
7.
Ball, S.J. (1993) 'Education Policy, Power Relations and Teachers' Work', British Journal of Educational Studies41(2): 106-21.
8.
Blease, D. and Lever, D. (1992) 'What Do Primary Headteachers Really Do?', Educational Studies18(2): 185-99.
9.
Boydell, D. (1990) '''... The Gerbil on the Wheel": Conversations with Primary Headteachers about the Implications of the ERA', Education 3-13 (June): 20-4.
10.
Central Advisory Council for Education (England) (CACE) (1967) Children and their Primary Schools (the Plowden ReportLondon: HMSO.
11.
Cohen, R., Coxall, J., Craig, G. and Sadiq-Sangster, A. (1992) Hardship BritainLondon: Child Poverty Action Group.
12.
Coulson, A. (1986) 'The Managerial Work of Primary School Headteachers', Sheffield Papers in Education Management 48Sheffield : Sheffield City Polytechnic.
13.
Craig, G. (1992) 'Anti-poverty Action and Research in the UK', Social Policy and Administration26(2): 129-43.
14.
Day, C., Hall, C., Gammage, P. and Coles, M. (1993) Leadership and Curriculum in the Primary SchoolLondon: Paul Chapman.
15.
Day, C., Whitaker, P. and Johnston, D. (1990) Managing Primary Schools in the 1990sLondon: Paul Chapman.
16.
Dearing, R. (1993a) The National Curriculum and its Assessment, Interim ReportLondon: National Curriculum Council and School Examinations and Assessments Council.
17.
Dearing, R. (1993b) The National Curriculum and its Assessment, Final ReportLondon: SCAA.
18.
DES (Department of Education and Science) ( 1982) Education 5-9: An Illustrative Survey of 80 First Schools in EnglandLondon: HMSO.
19.
Evetts, J. (1994) 'The New Headteacher: The Changing Work Culture of Secondary Headship', School Organisation14(1): 37-47.
20.
Fullan, M.G. (1991) The New Meaning of Educational ChangeLondon: Cassell.
21.
Haigh, G. (1993) 'Trapped by Trivia', School Management Update, Times Educational Supplement, 29 January, p. 7.
22.
Handy, C. and Aitkin, R. (1986) Understanding Schools as OrganisationsLondon: Penguin.
23.
Hargreaves, A. (1994) Changing Teachers, Changing Times: Teachers' Work and Culture in the Postmodern AgeLondon : Cassell.
24.
Harrison, M. and Gill, S. (1992) Primary School ManagementOxford : Heinemann.
25.
Hellawell, D. (1991) 'The Changing Role of the Head in the Primary School in England', School Organisation11(3): 321-37.
26.
Hill, T. (1989) Managing the Primary SchoolLondon: David Fulton.
27.
House of Commons (1986) Education, Science and Arts Committee, Third Report: Achievement in Primary Schools , Vol. 1. London: HMSO.
28.
Hofkins, D. (1994) 'Social Worker Back-up Demanded', Times Educational Supplement, 21 October, p.6.
29.
ILEA (Inner London Education Authority) (1985 ) Improving Primary Schools (Report of the Committee on Primary EducationLondon: ILEA.
30.
Jenkins, C. (1994) 'The "Luxury" that Becomes Indispensable', Times Educational Supplement, 11 November, p. 10.
31.
Jones, G. and Hayes, D. (1991) 'Primary Headteachers and the ERA Two Years on: The Pace of Change and its Impact upon Schools', School Organisation11(2): 211-21.
32.
Judd, J. (1994) 'Teachers "Have to be Social Workers"', The Independent, 21 October, p. 6.
33.
Laws, J. and Dennison, W.F. (1991) 'The Use of Headteachers' Time: Leading Professional or Chief Executive?', Education 3-13 (June): 47-57.
34.
MacLeod, D. (1994) 'Schools Need Social Workers for Parents', The Guardian, 21 October, p. 8.
35.
Ofsted (1993) The Handbook for the Inspection of SchoolsLondon: OFSTED.
36.
Ofsted (1994) Primary MattersLondon: OFSTED.
37.
Paisey, A. and Paisey, A. (1987) Effective Management in Primary SchoolsOxford: Basil Blackwell.
38.
Pollard, A., Broadfoot, P., Croll, P., Osborn, M. and Abbott, D. (1994) Changing English Primary Schools? The Impact of the Education Reform Act at Key Stage OneLondon: Cassell.
39.
Riseborough, G. (1993) 'Primary Headship, State Policy and the Challenge of the 1990s: An Exceptional Story that Disproves total Hegemonic Rule', Journal of Educataon Policy8(2): 155-73.
40.
Robinson, F. and Gregson, N. (1992) 'The "Underclass": A Class Apart?', Critical Social Policy34: 38-51.
41.
Rosenholtz, S.J. (1991) Teachers' Workplace: The Social Organisation of SchoolsNew York: Teachers College Press.
42.
Sarason, S.B. (1982) The Culture of the School and the Problem of ChangeBoston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
43.
Shipman, M.D. (1974) Inside a Curriculum ProjectLondon: Methuen.
44.
Southworth, G. (1993) 'School Leadership and School Development: Reflections from Research', School Organisation13(1): 73-87.
45.
Spear, E. (1987) 'Corporate Decision Making versus Headteacher Autonomy: A Question of Style', in I. Craig (ed.) Primary School Management in Action.Harlow: Longman.
46.
Vulliamy, G. and Webb, R. (1995) 'The Implementation of the National Curriculum in Small Primary Schools', Educational Review47(1): 25-41.
47.
Wallace, M. (1992) 'Flexible Planning: A Key to the Management of Multiple Innovations', in N. Bennett, M. Crawford and C. Riches (eds) Managing Change in Education.London: Paul Chapman.
48.
Webb, R. (1993) Eating The Elephant Bit By Bit: The National Curriculum at Key Stage 2London: Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
49.
Webb, R. (1994) After the Deluge: Changing Roles and Responsibilities in the Primary SchoolLondon: Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
50.
Webb, R. and Vulliamy, G. (1996) Roles and Responsibilities in the Primary School: Changing Demands, Changing PracticesBuckingham: Open University Press.
51.
Webb, R. and Vulliamy, G. (forthcoming) 'Headteachers as Social Workers: The Hidden Side of Parental Involvement in the Primary School', Education 3-13.
52.
Whitaker, P. (1983) The Primary HeadLondon: Heinemann Educational.