Being a teacher in further education in changing times

Abstract

As with other sectors of education, further education seems to be locked in endless change with policy unable to resolve what have become to be regarded as intractable problems. In turn, much is expected of teachers who are left to resolve the competing pressures they are placed under. Evidence suggests that they expend much emotional labour and employ a range of strategies, but on the whole, while not ignoring the demands of other stakeholders, they privilege the needs and interests of learners in their adoption of an ethic of care.

Keywords:

• teacher identities
• professional identity
• emotional labour

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the FE teachers who shared their biographies and experiences with us and to the ESRC/TLRP programme for supporting this research project. John Roberts was a member of the research team.