Pedagogy : a source of conflict between head teachers and teaching staff ? The case of secondary schools in France

Since the beginning of the 2000's in France, supervision authorities have asked secondary school head teachers to play a more decisive part than before in the pedagogical sphere. This trend raises the question of their legitimacy in this domain. The article shows that this is only partially recognised by teaching staff who contest head teachers' competence in this field. Based on a national survey in which 332 head teachers answered a questionnaire, the research endeavours to identify and analyse conflicts between the two categories (head teachers and teaching staff). Their differences in the matter can affect the smooth-running of the school.