Originally published in 1983. This book deals with theories of innovation and activities of innovating and the relationships between them, and will help to clarify some of the underlying theories and enable practitioners to make a more professional response to the demands and pressures for innovation.

The book analyses some case studies of educational innovations carried out on both sides of the Atlantic and suggests what lessons might be learned from them. It stresses the importance of the active involvement of teachers in the decision-making process and emphasises the importance of a rigorous and broadly based evaluation of innovation. The controversial issue of the use of external consultants in schools is discussed. Written in a clear style, free from jargon, theories are not discussed in isolation or for their own sake, but are applied and related to educational practice.