Commonalities between Perceptions and Practice in Models of School Decision-Making Systems in Secondary Schools in England and Wales.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Commonalities between Perceptions and Practice in Models of School Decision-Making Systems in Secondary Schools in England and Wales.
Language: English
Authors: Boyle, R., Boyle, T., Brown, M.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 1999
Document Type: Reports - Research
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Descriptors: Administrator Role, Administrators, Educational Policy, Foreign Countries, Participative Decision Making, Principals, School Administration, School Based Management, Secondary Education, Urban Schools
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
Abstract: This paper examines whether the delegating of whole-school decision making reaches to, involves, and empowers the middle-management level. It looks for evidence of alternative models of management for decision making and identifies commonalities between the perceptions and the practices of headteachers and middle managers. The research for the paper took place in a random sample of 21 urban-area, secondary schools in England. Two semi-structured interview schedules were developed, one for the middle-management representatives and one for the headteacher. The results indicate that there were three different types of schools: the type C school, which showed no evidence of a shared decision-making model; the type B school, which exhibited some movement toward middle-management access to decision making; and the type A school, which operated fully in a shared decision-making model. The decision-making type was not linked to any particular school size. The evidence shows that middle managers are increasingly seeking a greater say in decisions. It is believed that as middle managers come to share organizational values and goals, and have practice in administrative problem solving, organizational learning is enhanced. This belief is reflected in collegial models of education management. (Contains 56 references.) (RJM)
Entry Date: 1999
Accession Number: ED431243
Database: ERIC
Be the first to leave a comment!
You must be logged in first