§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the head mistress of the Albourne Church of England School, Hassocks, East Sussex, has received three months' notice of dismissal, such notice terminating on the 30th June; that the local education authority has confirmed the notice of dismissal without granting an inquiry into certain alleged charges brought against the teacher of which no details were given to the head mistress; and that the school, which has an attendance of forty children, is now being car- 1892W ried on by a supplementary teacher and a monitress; and, inasmuch as this is contrary to the regulations of the Elementary School Code, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. A. HENDERSONMy only knowledge of this case is derived from a report of the proceedings before the High Court, in which a Motion on behalf of the teacher to restrain the school managers from acting on a resolution to terminate her appointment was dismissed. I have no knowledge of any charges brought against her, and, there do not appear to be any grounds on which I could intervene. With regard to the last part of the question, the case was only heard in the early part of this month, and I presume that any deficiency of staff which may exist is purely temporary pending the appointment of a qualified head teacher. On this point I may refer my hon. Friend to Article 9 (g) of the Code.