The micropolitics of being a head of physical education in a secondary school: insights from an ethnographic study

ABSTRACT

In this article, we seek to expand our understanding of the micropolitics of school life by drawing on data generated from a one-year ethnographic study of a physical education (PE) department at a high school in the North of England. Specific attention is given to the structured demands placed upon the Departmental Head in the face of an imminent Ofsted inspection where the school is determined to maintain their ‘Outstanding’ grading. The manner in which these demands coupled with her own teaching perspective, lead her to use power through, with, and over as part of a micropolitical strategy to achieve her desired aims are considered in detail. Likewise, attention is also given to the micropolitical strategies used by the members of the department to challenge her aims and protect their own self and career interests. The superordinate goal of status enhancement is seen to gloss over internal departmental tensions and conflicts leading to a situation of contrived as opposed to authentic collegiality.

KEYWORDS:

• Micropolitics
• power
• strategies
• contestation
• rhetoric
• ethnography

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the staff at Northton High School, and especially the members of the physical education department, for allowing us into their daily lives and for sharing their views with us.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.