There have been relatively few studies that have gauged the thoughts,
reactions and expectations held by those working in schools towards de
centralisation and restructuring of school systems. This study investi
gates the views held by a sample of principals and teachers in Western
Australia of the likely effects of restructuring on changing roles an
d responsibilities, actual and desired outcomes, changing power and in
fluence relations, personal values, and difficulties in meeting new ex
pectations. Both principals and teachers predicted that decentralisati
on and devolution would increase their workloads and broaden their rol
es. Principals would require more human and technical management compe
tencies; teachers would assume more non-teaching duties. Notwithstandi
ng difficulties and drawbacks, principals and teachers believed that r
estructuring would lead to better, more effective, and more efficient
schools.