Evaluations, tied to specific programmes, need to be complemented by research that is more sensitive to context at the classroom level. A comparative approach may be used as a platform to move into a two-way conversation with the perspectives of practitioners in 'developing' countries and hence scrutinize internationally dominant notions of good teaching that are often assumed in applied research, such as evaluations. This paper draws on findings from a theoretically oriented study of primary school teacher identity in Tanzania, in which explicit comparisons are made with teacher identity in England. The analysis shows how Tanzanian teachers see their social identity and professional responsibilities as being co-constructed and shared with parents, the local community and education administration. A comparison is made with English constructs of professional responsibility and accountability in order to draw some lessons for the conduct and interpretation of evaluations.