Improving ineffective departments in secondary schools: Strategies for change and development

This article outlines the findings from a small-scale qualitative study of differentially effective departments within a range of secondary schools. It describes the methodology selected for the investigation and considers those factors which contribute to departments being less effective. It is argued that less effective departments have common characteristics, or features, which militate against effective working. The article concludes that different improvement strategies will be required for departments that are at different stages of development and growth. copy;1998 BEMAS.