§ 9. Mr. Willeyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to ensure that governors and managers of schools have access to information about the size of classes in their schools.
§ Mrs. ThatcherNo, Sir. I should expect that normal consultation with head teachers would enable managers and governors to have any information they wish about their schools.
§ Mr. WilleyWhile not wanting to persuade the right hon. Lady to interfere unduly in local affairs, may I ask whether she will look at this matter, because local councillors and others responsible for schools should have access to information they require to carry out their duties? Therefore, will she use her good offices to see that councillors and others in Sunderland have this information about the size of classes?
§ Mrs. ThatcherI have looked into this case. I am sure that if either the right 1823 hon. Gentleman or I were a manager or governor we should have no difficulty in getting information. Managers and governors must have access to information which they need properly to carry out their duties—let there be no doubt about that—and they should be able to get it without recourse to a Secretary of State.