"The pupils will suffer if we don't work": teacher professionalism and reactions to policy change in Scotland

McPhee, A. and Patrick, F. (2009) "The pupils will suffer if we don't work": teacher professionalism and reactions to policy change in Scotland. Scottish Educational Review, 41(1), pp. 86-96.

Abstract

Recent policy introductions in Scotland have led to a contractual statement that teachers’ work should be capable of completion within a 35 hour working week. However research by a team at the University of Glasgow found that teachers worked 45 hours per week on average and found it difficult to reduce their work to fit within a regular 35 hour pattern. This may be because teachers do not conceptualise their work into essential and less essential tasks, something that would allow them to prioritise which work should be done within a 35 hour week and which set aside to allow effective time management. The article concludes that any policy which is introduced to manage time needs to be based on an understanding of teachers’ sense of professional duty and obligation if it is to change workplace practice.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Patrick, Dr Fiona
• Authors: McPhee, A., and Patrick, F.
• Subjects: L Education > L Education (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Culture, Literacies, Inclusion & Pedagogy
• Journal Name: Scottish Educational Review
• Publisher: University of Glasgow, Faculty of Education
• ISSN: 0141-9072
• ISSN (Online): 0261-4235