§ 78. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that in certain instances candidates for headships in non-Church schools are asked to indicate their religious beliefs; and, in view of the prejudicial effect this may have, whether he will take steps to prevent the making of such inquiries.
§ Mr. TomlinsonOne instance has been brought to my notice where a candidate for a headship of a county school was asked to declare on the form of application with what religious denomination he was connected. I find on inquiry that the local education authority concerned recently revised their form of application for a post of head teacher and that an obsolete form which had applied to voluntary as well as county schools was used because the revised form had not been received from the printers. In view of the terms of Section 30 of the Education Act, 1944, such questions should not, in my opinion, be asked of candidates for appointment to teaching posts in county, controlled, or special agreement schools, other than as reserved teachers in controlled or special agreement schools.