§ MR. BUTCHER (Cambridge University)To ask the President of the Board of Education in how many new or amended schemes for endowed schools issued during the last three years the appointment and dismissal of the assistant masters is vested in the head master solely, in the head master subject to the approval of the governing body, or in the governing body solely, acting on the recommendation of the head master; and, in particular, why in certain cases no provision is made for protecting the assistant masters from arbitrary dismissal.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) There are twelve cases in which the appointment and dismissal rest solely with the head master. There are also three girls' schools in this category. There are twenty-nine cases in which the appointment and dismissal rest with the head master, subject to the approval of the governing body. There are also five girls' schools in this category. There are four cases in which the head master has sole power to appoint, but can only dismiss with the approval of the governing body, and there is one girls' school in this category. There are five cases where the appointment rests with the head master, subject to the approval of the governing body, and where the governing body dismiss on the recommendation of the head master. There are ten cases in which appointment and dismissal rest with the governing body on the recommendation of, or after consultation with, the head master. There is only one case in which appointment and dismissal rest solely with the governing body. As regards the concluding paragraph of the Question, I am not sure what the hon. Member means by the word "arbitrary"; but I must remind him that the Endowed Schools Act, 1869, Section 22, makes it imperative that every scheme shall provide for the dismissal of every teacher "at pleasure," adding, however, "with or without a power of appeal in such cases and under 937 such circumstances as to the Commissioners" (now the Board of Education) "may seem expedient." In all cases which come up for reconsideration, and in all new schemes, the Board's present practice is, generally speaking, to insert provisions requiring the approval of the governing body in all cases where the appointment or dismissal is vested in the head master.