Submitted by: Education Special Committee   

The National Council of Women in Conference assembled, supports the recommendations of the Plowden Report that “School Managers should be appointed on the basis of their genuine concern with Education and readiness to devote time and trouble to their managerial duties” and the suggestion in the Maud Report that “in Education, the sphere of action open to Managers and Governors of schools should be widened”. In particular, the National Council of Women asks the Secretary of State for Education and Science to ensure that in the event of the formulation of a new Education Act, or by amendment to the 1944 Education Act, the following provisions are made : (a) the functions and powers of Boards of Managements and Governing Bodies of schools should be increased and clearly defined and should include some real responsibility over finance and development;(b) it should be obligatory to include on the Board of Management or Governing Body a member to represent the parents and a member to represent the teachers; (c) the Head of the School should have the right to be present at meetings of the Board of Management or Governing Body; (d) the grouping of a large number of schools under one Board of Management should not be allowed.