The aim of this dissertation is to examine two interrelated themes. Firstly I aim to investigate the process of curricular innovation; in this case the introduction of the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (referred to as LCVP in the rest of this dissertation) in a newly constituted school. Secondly in the light of findings from this investigation I will assess the conditions deemed necessary for the successful implementation of educational innovations. This study explores the meanings of aspects of the implementation process for those involved in the process of implementing curriculum change and how they relate to and are influenced by their particular setting and by internal and external factors. Focusing on the implementation process enables us to study the innovation as a dependent variable and allows examination of strategies and other determinants of change as they affect the degree of implementation in various settings. The central focus of this study is not whether the programme was implemented but how the programme was implemented.