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“A Fever of Anxiety and Fear”? Historical Perspectives on School Inspections and Teachers’ Well-Being in England and Wales: 1839–2024

Russell Grigg

History of Education, Pages: 1 - 21

Swansea University Author: Russell Grigg

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DOI (Published version): 10.1080/0046760x.2025.2525124

Abstract

This article addresses the lack of historical perspectives in recent discussions about the impact of school inspections on teachers’ well-being. Viewed through the lens of emotional history, it explores the significance of school inspectors’ styles and personalities in shaping teachers’ emotional ex...

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Published in: History of Education
ISSN: 0046-760X 1464-5130
Published: Informa UK Limited 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69803
Abstract: This article addresses the lack of historical perspectives in recent discussions about the impact of school inspections on teachers’ well-being. Viewed through the lens of emotional history, it explores the significance of school inspectors’ styles and personalities in shaping teachers’ emotional experiences of inspection. Based on wide-ranging sources, the findings show that teachers have experienced inspection-related anxiety and fear over a very long period. But they have also enjoyed moments of mutual respect, pride and satisfaction. The paper illustrates how inspectors’ roles, styles and personalities interacted and were key to either promoting or undermining teachers’ emotional well-being. It also highlights insights from the past to inform current debates about school inspections. The research breaks new ground in offering a long-term perspective and has relevance to those interested in the intersection of inspection practices, teacher well-being, and educational accountability.
Keywords: School inspections; teachers; Ofsted; well-being; emotions
College: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Funders: Swansea University
Start Page: 1
End Page: 21

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