§ 16. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the steps taken by him following the publication of the recent report on the selection and appointment of head teachers.
§ Sir Keith JosephI intend to convene a national conference early in the new year on the selection of head teachers for schools. The conference will be greatly helped by the Open University's report, the full version of which will be published next month.
§ Mr. GreenwayDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the vast majority of head teachers are doing a first-class job but that a significant minority are falling down badly, to the detriment of the education of children in their care, and that that affects those children's school careers and lives? Does he agree that it is essential to do something about bad head teachers?
§ Sir Keith JosephI agree that it is extremely important to try to get the best head teachers possible. That is why the report on the selection process is potentially so valuable.