The teacher as street-level bureaucrat: science teacher’s discretionary decision-making in a time of reform

Figures & data

Table 1. Frequency of teaching approaches used in the classroom.

Activity	Every or almost	Often	Some-times	Rarely	Never
I check, by asking questions, whether or not the subject matter has been understood.	19	6	1	0	0
Engage the whole class in discussions	13	11	2	0	0
Organise practical hands-on/laboratory science activities or investigations	9	15	2	0	0
Pose open-ended questions	14	9	3	0	0
I explicitly state learning goals	16	6	3	1	0
I check my students’ exercise books.	11	10	5	0	0
At the beginning of the lesson I present a short summary of the previous lesson.	7	10	8	0	1
I administer a test or quiz to assess student learning.	3	14	4	2	3
I present new topics to the class (lecture-style presentation).	4	10	9	1	2
I review with the students the homework they have prepared.	3	11	2	5	5
I work 1-to-1 with individual students	2	11	6	5	2
I give different work to the students that have difficulties learning and/or to those who can advance faster.	3	9	12	2	0
I ask my students to remember every step in a procedure.	2	7	7	6	4
I ask my students to suggest or to help plan classroom activities or topics.	1	2	9	9	5

Table

Alias		Gender	Specialism	Age	Years Teaching	Key Stages	Role
Amber	sfb1	F	Biology	30–39	8	3 & 4	Head of Science
Auburn	sfc2	F	Chemistry	40–49	18	3 & 4	Head of Science
Blue	sfb3	F	Biology	30–39	10	3, 4 & 5	Head of Science
Briar	smb4	M	Biology	30–39	8	3 & 4	KS4 Coordinator
Blossom	sfc5	F	Chemistry	22–29	8	3 & 4	Head of Subject
Brown	smp6	M	Physics	50–59	31	3, 4 & 5	Head of Science
Citrine	smp7	M	Physics	30–39	3	3 & 4	Main scale
Chestnut	sfc8	F	Chemistry	40–49	20	3 & 4	Head of Science
Cerise	sfb9	F	Biology	40–49	18	3, 4 & 5	KS3 Coordinator
Cerulean	smc10	M	Chem/Phys	50–59	28	3, 4 & 5	Head of Science
Ecru	smc11	M	Chemistry	50–59	33	4	Senior Leadership
Ebony	smb12	M	Biology	50–59	29	3 & 4	KS3 Coordinator
Coral	smp13	M	Physics	40–49	23	3 & 4	Head of Science
Emerald	smp14i	M	Physics	30–39	10	3, 4 & 5	Head of Dept
Garnet	sfc15	F	Chemistry	40–49	9	3 & 4	Head of Science
Green	smb16	M	Biology	40–49	22	3 & 4	Head of Science
Jade	pmks21	M	Maths	30–39	2	2	Science Co-ord.
Jet	pfks22i	F	Biology	50–59	22	2	Science Co-ord.
Mustard	pmks23	M	Primary	40–49	7	2	Science Co-ord.
Khaki	pfeyfs14	F	None	22–29	2	EYFS	Main Scale
Lavender	pmks25	M	Primary	30–39	4	2	Science Co-ord.
Mocha	pfks26	F	Primary	40–49	12	2	Science Co-ord.
Olive	pfks17	F	Primary	40–49	20	1	Science Co-ord.
Lime	pmks28	M	Maths	30–39	6	2	Science Co-ord.
Lilac	pfks19	F	Biology	50–59	19	1	Head of School
Lemon	pmks210	M	English	40–49	15	1 & 2	Science Co-ord.