GENDER DIFFERENCES IN TEACHER RESPONSE TO SCHOOL INSPECTION

Teachers' responses to inspection were investigated using a questionna ire sum,ey of a random sample of 821 secondary school teachers who had undergone a full OFSTED inspection and in-depth interviews with a fur ther 35 teachers. The research found that inspection causes additional stress and that female teachers, regardless of level of seniority, fe lt move nervous about inspection than male teachers. Both male and fem ale teachers felt move nervous when an inspector of a different gender to themselves was observing them in the classroom. Teachers' affectiv e responses to inspection alter their behavioural ones, thus affecting the resultant picture not only of the school itself but also of schoo ls In this country-a picture on which future advice and policy may be based. Explanations for gender differences are sought using the framew orks of stress and power differentials.