Research topic

Inspection of Swedish schools has grown fast and furios since the beginning of year 2000. Inspection often evokes different ethical questions. In this session we highlight some phenomena arised from school inspection. Ethical aspects about care and justice of students is targeted, as well as the question of how the Swedish School Inspectorate assess teacher´s education, and force schools and local school authorities to develop the education, by bringing legal arguments and even by using fines. 

Theoretical framework Method

Drawing on theories about performativity and juridification, this article explores ethical aspects in school leadership and school management in the process of inspection. The session is based on three case studies in Swedish schools, which are sourced by research interviews and by informal data collected from school actors after inspection. Results: Inspection heavily bumps ethical questions. Results from the study highlights general ethical difficulties in inspections of schools and particularly the inspection phenomena of governing schools by distance. It also pinpoints principals ethical dilemmas when trying to take care of students wellbeing at the same time stay on his or her teachers side and also telling the truth to the inspector.