Drawing on wide ranging research, this book explores how the policy changes of recent years are affecting primary teachers and their work. Within the context of worldwide restructuring, the thoughts, feelings and activities of teachers in their daily work are examined. The core argument is that what used to be a complex but fulfilling job distinguished by professional dilemmas, which are amenable to professional skill, has become increasingly marked by tension and constraint, which frustrates teacher creativity. While some teachers find new opportunities in the 'new' primary school, many use strategical and micro-political activity in order to cope, while others fall victim to stress and burnout. The authors argue that teachers' own active involvement in policy change is required if their creative potential is to be realized. The book will be of particular interest to teachers in primary schools, researchers and policy makers.

This book is a valuable resource for all those involved in education. It draws together many of the current ideas about the effect of change on teachers' lives and lets them speak for themselves about the development of their professional identity. - British Journal of Educational Studies This book is a thoughtful, passionate and vividly documented account of the impact on teachers and teaching of one of the most significant eras of educational change in history...This book will deservedly take its place in the growing literature on the personal educational effects of government policy in the past decade. I found it thought-provoking and readable...a fascinating book - British Journal of Sociology of Education

Peter Woods is Professor of Education at The Open University. He has researched and written extensively in the area of teacher and pupil interaction. Bob Jeffrey is a Research Fellow at The Open University. He is currently in the process of completing a three year research project, funded by the ESRC, on the effects of Ofsted inspections on primary teachers work.Geoff Troman taught science for a number of years in secondary modern, comprehensive and middle schools. He is currently at the Centre for Sociology and Social Research, The Open University, where he is a part-time tutor in education research methods and completing doctoral research.Mari Boyle is a former primary teacher. She is currently a Research Fellow at The Open University researching child meaningful learning with particular reference to children from ethnic minority cultures.