How do secondary school subject departments contribute to the learning of beginning teachers?

As a former deputy head teacher in a large English secondary school I have long been aware that departmental cultures can vary within schools and offer different learning environments for the teachers who work in them. The increasing involvement of schools in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) may mean that these differences have a relevance that extends beyond an individual school and its staff. I am currently completing the fieldwork for a doctoral thesis entitled ‘How do secondary school subject departments contribute to the learning of beginning teachers?’ I am based in one secondary school for three school terms, looking at four subject departments, and working with pre-service teachers who are participating in a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programme.