ABSTRACT
One of the most important determinants of staff sub-culture in secondary schools is that of the teacher's subject. From a factor analysis of items relating to the uses of writing in the classroom the authors discovered consistent variations between subjects and notable differences within subjects and in addition they found differences in the range of views held by teachers of different subjects. The latter subject pedagogy refers to the system of ideas and procedures for the organisation of learning in the classroom under specific institutional conditions, that is appropriate method rather than appropriate content. The members of the English department at Beachside were outspoken advocates of mixed-ability grouping and played an important part in convincing many of the rest of the staff of the school of its desirability and practicability.
