Parent power over teacher jobs 'could be beneficial'

Allowing parents the ability to force local authorities to launch education recruitment drives for failing schools could benefit the sector as a whole, it has been claimed.

According to lobbying organisation the Campaign for Real Education (CRE), giving parents new powers over teaching jobs in the form of voting for education recruitment changes may result in raised standards across the board.

Nick Seaton, chairman of the CRE, said: "In principle it's a step in the right direction.

"The people most responsible are the headteachers and the senior staff [so] if they are not doing their job it's right that parents should be able to replace them."

However, he added that it is important that the government ensures the planned initiative does not result in an increase in bureaucracy levels for those in education jobs.

Mr Seaton added that the CRE would prefer to see the introduction of a government sponsored education voucher, which parents could spend at a school of their choice.

Posted by Theo Foulds



Published On 03/03/2010