A Head reflects on his functioning : an autobiographical study arising out of an investigation into some aspects of personality grouping in a secondary school

Newby, Frank (1986) A Head reflects on his functioning : an autobiographical study arising out of an investigation into some aspects of personality grouping in a secondary school. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Initially, the research programme was to consider some of the effects of creating mixed ability tutor groups of boys in a secondary modern school on the basis of personality. Attention was to be given to the possibility of hidden effects being produced by the investigation. This attention and consideration of factors which may have led to the initiation of the research, together with exigencies of a school in a period of transition, resulted in the investigation becoming a part of an exploration of the functioning of a Head. The exploration moves from the setting of the original investigation to experiences in early life which may have influenced the approach to the task of being a Head. To overcome some of the difficulties involved in a time-dependent approach, each stage is considered in terms of three themes: `Activities' - a description of institutions and my function in them; `Relationships' - some of the possible influences on, and effects of, my affective behaviour in teaching; `Thinking' - the history of my involvement in thinking and enquiry. At the conclusion of the autobiography a view is submitted of a way in which a particular school may function in future. Threads were then traced which were perceived as connecting elements of the three themes. They were finally brought together to enable the style of functioning to be discerned. The work is presented as an offering from which the reader may draw whatever is considered useful. (D72862/87)

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