The Secondary Headship: Perceptions, Conceptions,Performance and Reactions of Headteachers in Barbados Available to Purchase

Reports a study of seven headteachers from public schools in Barbados during the period March‐June 1984. Presents the results of the study, which include: headteachers see their role in creating good interpersonal relationships and purposeful climates as a very important one. They are seriously concerned about student discipline, control and order. Evidence of great discontinuity between their role conceptions and performance was found. The headteachers experienced feelings of powerlessness and ambiguity as a result of being controlled by policies and rules from a central body. These caused some degree of frustration and elements of formalism but there was no evidence of alienation or despair.