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Middle leaders as policy translators: prime actors in the enactment of policy

Skerritt, Craig orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-3695-758X, McNamara, Gerry orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-9725-9304, Quinn, Irene, O'Hara, Joe orcid logoORCID: 0000-0003-1956-7640 and Brown, Martin orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-5436-354X (2021) Middle leaders as policy translators: prime actors in the enactment of policy. Journal of Education Policy, 38 (4). pp. 567-585. ISSN 0268-0939

Abstract
This paper picks up and elaborates on the conception of policy translators in schools – key actors in the enactment of policy. The qualitative data presented here highlight how it is often middle leaders doing high-profile policy work in schools, turning ideas into actions and bringing policy to life. As translators, they organise, manage, lead, plan, produce, inspire, persuade, and appease, and in doing so they translate policy into practice and make it a collective effort. At the same time, they are often overloaded and inundated. In focusing on middle leaders as policy translators, this research makes several important contributions to scholarship: empirical data is provided to support and expand on policy enactment theory, the limited research base on middle leadership is developed, and understandings of how school self-evaluation plays out in schools are strengthened. Thus, it is envisaged that this paper will not only be of interest and of use to researchers and policymakers concerned with policy, evaluation, and leadership but to practising teachers and school leaders attempting to make sense of their own experiences at the coalface.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Policy enactment; policy actors; translators; middle leaders; school self evaluation
Subjects:Social Sciences > Education
DCU Faculties and Centres:Research Initiatives and Centres > Centre for Evaluation, Quality & Inspection (EQI)
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
Official URL:https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2021.2006315
Copyright Information:© 2021 The Authors.
ID Code:28692
Deposited On:12 Jul 2023 13:11 by Joe O'hara . Last Modified 29 Feb 2024 14:42
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