HC Deb 02 March 1987 vol 111 cc480-1W
Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider producing a circular to be sent to each local education authority providing guidelines for the conduct of the annual meeting of each school.

Mr. Dunn

Section 31(4)(a) of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 provides for the proceedings at the annual parent's meeting to be under the control of the governing body. The Department's circular 8/86, a copy of which is in the Library, contains some guidance of the conduct of these meetings; copies were distributed to local education authorities and to governing bodies.

Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from teachers or their unions about the conduct of school annual meetings.

Mr. Dunn

At a meeting with my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold), representatives of the Secondary Heads Association expressed some concern about the conduct of annual parents' meetings in the event of prolonged and persistent criticism of a named individual teacher. They were referred to the guidance in circular 8/86, and agreed to consider the question later, in the light of experience of the first round of meetings.