HL Deb 22 November 1983 vol 445 cc115-6

2.55 p.m.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to make governors aware of their rights and responsibilities in the governing and running of schools.

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, these matters are for local education authorities and voluntary bodies. Detailed information on the provision made is not collected. However, the indications are of an increase in the efforts to ensure that governors are well versed in their responsibilities. As a contribution towards this, the Department of Education and Science sponsored an Open University course on "Governing Schools" which is being widely used.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn

My Lords, is the Minister aware that most governors do not know that they have exceedingly great responsibilities under the 1944 Act and that they can do all kinds of things under the Act of which they are not aware? I am asking the Government to make governors aware of this. It is not being done by local authorities.

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, I would certainly not care to argue with the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, about anything to do with governing bodies. The noble Lord knows a lot more about them than I do. But my impression is that much is being done in the way of training. Six thousand students have completed the Open University course, to which I referred, since its inception in April 1981. Many sets of materials have been purchased by local education authorities and other agencies for use in existing or new training programmes. I know also that a number of authorities are running courses for new governors, as are some of the voluntary bodies.

Baroness David

My Lords, is the Minister aware that local authorities are keen to run these courses in many cases but find it rather difficult because of the cut-back in educational expenditure?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, yes; I think that that is probably the case. But if people are keen to learn to be governors, they will not necessarily want to pay for the privilege of learning.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware, and if he is not aware will he make himself aware, of the fact that any good chairman does not talk as much as he listens? May be that is not the philosophy of the party opposite. But a good chairman is a good listener. Would the noble Lord agree that one of the responsibilities of the governors of a school is to encourage and make facilities for the pupils of that school to pass through the transition period into adulthood in a full and democratic manner, rather than in the authoritarian manner that has been expressed from behind him?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, I think that if the noble Lord listened a little more he would realise that we have passed on to another Question since the one that he asked.

Lord Mackie of Benshie

My Lords, will the Minister circulate all governors on the virtues of brevity?

Lord Avebury

My Lords, do not the answers that the Minister gave earlier refute the absurd statement by the noble Lord, Lord Beloff, that the duty of governors is to govern and that the duty of students is to study, bearing in mind the importance the Minister attaches to the governors studying their own responsibilities?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, I think none of us is too old to study.