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

Brown, Martin orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-5436-354X, Skerritt, Craig orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-3695-758X, McNamara, Gerry, Quinn, Irene and O’Hara, Joe orcid logoORCID: 0000-0003-1956-7640 (2023) 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
Social Sciences > Teaching
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education
Research Institutes and Centres > EQI - Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection
Publisher:Routledge/Taylor & Francis
Official URL:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02680...
Copyright Information:Authors
ID Code:30455
Deposited On:29 Oct 2024 11:53 by Vidatum Academic . Last Modified 29 Oct 2024 11:53
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