ABSTRACT
Emery Centre was established in 19732, and it operated in West Town for nine years, under the same headteacher and the same full-time teacher with only minor structural changes. During that time the number of pupils had been very small and its role insignificant. The year before the fieldwork started the old headteacher retired, and the Centre was due to close, functioning with only one member of staff and one or two pupils. However, in the beginning of 1986 a new headteacher was appointed and significant organizational changes took place. At the time of the fieldwork, the Centre operated with three full-time members of staff: the headteacher, who was also in charge of some subjects, a full-time teacher who bore the main teaching responsibility, and a secretary who also taught cookery and typing. The number of pupils had also been increased to nine.
