§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that local education authorities treat applications for teaching posts from both locally managed and grant-maintained schools equally on individual merits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robin SquireWhen a school has a delegated budget under the local management of schools scheme, it is the governing body that decides which teachers should be appointed to any vacant posts at the school. The local education authority may offer advice, but cannot insist on a school appointing only candidates of which it approves. The Department's publications for school governors stress that all applicants for posts must be judged on their merits.