This thesis focuses on teachers' conceptualisations of teaching as a profession and the extent to which their conceptualisations are affected by the way teachers perceive their role within schools and status within society. It draws on the findings of a series of twelve interviews with practising teachers from a range of schools and educational experiences. Teachers were asked to describe how they defined the term professional and to think about how far they saw teachers as professionals. They were invited to discuss the nature of their role in schools and assess the extent to which that role enhanced or undermined their perception of their status within society. Teachers discussed how they believed they were viewed by the public and government and the impact this has on their view of themselves. The respondents discussed ways in which their sense of professionalism could be enhanced and talked about how their personal experiences influenced their views of themselves and what they do.