§ 42. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst parents and ratepayers with the management of Butlocks Heath schools, Hants; that a special inspection of this school took place in February last; that the report of this inspection was communicated to the Hampshire Education Committee and to the managers; that both these authorities have declined to corn municate its terms to the parish council, the ratepayers, or parents; and that, in consequence, suspicion attaches in the locality to the efficiency and management of this school; and whether it is the policy of the Board of Education to support local authorities in carrying on schools against the interests and wishes of the ratepayers and in ignorance of the reports of inspectors?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)I am aware of the dissatisfaction, but I do not know precisely what are the grounds for it. The school was inspected by three of the Board's inspectors last February, and their report was communicated to the local education authority, and by them to the managers. I am not aware whether those bodies have declined to communicate it to other persons. The body of managers includes representatives of the parish council. It is, of course, within the discretion of a local education authority to communicate a report to other persons than the managers, but it is not the practice of the Board to press them to do so. In my opinion, the legitimate criticism of the school which is contained in the report affords no ground for regarding the school as generally inefficient. The Board see no reason to criticise the action of the local education authority with regard to this school: they are doing their best in rather difficult circumstances.