Teacher Retention in an Age of Performative Accountability: Target Culture and the Discourse of Disappointment

Jane Perryman's book "Teacher Retention in an Age of Performative Accountability" critically analyzes the culture of performative accountability in education and its impact on teacher recruitment and retention. She argues that the increasing focus on assessment and evaluation in schools has led to a decline in the individualistic and creative aspects of teaching, leading to a "discourse of disappointment" among teachers. The book offers a valuable insight into the effects of accountability and performativity mechanisms on the working experience of teachers and provides recommendations for addressing the crisis.

Format: Hardback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In this comprehensive and timely volume, Jane Perryman delves into a thorough analysis of the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention by critiquing the prevailing culture of performative accountability in education. Through a fusion of theory, literature, and empirical data, Perryman presents a definitive exploration of this pressing issue.

Drawing upon data from numerous long-term research projects and employing a Foucauldian theoretical framework, Perryman argues that the lives of teachers, both in the UK and internationally, are being profoundly impacted by the rise of the neoliberal performativity and accountability culture in schools. The work of teachers has increasingly been directed towards assessment, exams, progress measures, and preparation for review and inspection, at the expense of the more individualized and creative aspects of their profession. This culture of hyper accountability and super-performativity, as Perryman contends, has fostered a discourse of disappointment, where the hopes and aspirations of teachers are crushed under the performative pressures they face.

Teacher Retention in an Age of Performative Accountability offers a compelling and meticulously written critical analysis of how the values, purposes, and practices inherent in education shape the working experiences of teachers over time. Perryman makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of the consequences of accountability and performativity mechanisms in schools, shedding light on the reasons behind the high rates of teacher attrition. This analysis holds significance for scholars, educators, and policymakers alike, as it provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the education sector.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367361389