ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is concerned with relating the school to its changing environment. This is an environment which includes the very powerful governing body. The book focuses on the relationship between the school and the children's parents. It examines the changing relationship with the Local Education Authority (LEA). There are contradictory trends as the power of the LEA is reduced by the Education Reform Act while the advisory services become more inspectorial as they assume the role of policing the National Curriculum. The book also examines the management of the curriculum and shows that, even with the implementation of a National Curriculum, this will continue to be a central task of school management. It considers how the head may plan for the professional development of the teachers in the school.
