TEACHERS AND EDUCATION POLICY - ROLES AND MODELS

Four models are outlined for describing and analysing the role of teac hers in the formulation of educational policy and the resulting proces ses of change. The model of teachers as partners in education policy m aking draws on a pluralist view of political processes and an assumpti on of a degree of autonomy for teachers and schools. A model of teache rs as implementers of change draws a sharp distinction between the pro cesses of policy making and policy execution and excludes teachers fro m an involvement in the former. A model of teachers as resisting chang e has been put forward both by those most opposed to and those most su pportive of current educational policy developments. Finally, a model of teachers as policy makers in practice is proposed to describe the w ay in which the reality of teaching situations can lead to the indepen dent actions of individual teachers having systematic policy effects. The applicability of these models is considered in the context of cont emporary educational changes drawing on empirical research evidence, i n particular that of the PACE (Primary Assessment Curriculum and Exper ience) study of the implementation of the National Curriculum at KS1 a nd KS2.