The chief focus of this book is on the extent to which UK teachers organized collectively in unions are able to influence educational policy development and the methods by which they do so. In line with the series' aim to concentrate on current issues and emerging trends, the book explores the future potential influence of teacher unions. The author covers the history and development of these unions in the UK since the middle of the last century, reviews the main strands in the liteature on teacher unions, and considers both the nature and extent of union influence and the means by which this influence is exercised.