Should parents have the right to trigger Heads’ sacking?
The New Schools Network, the charity that sets up free schools, said parents should have the legal right to force intervention in failing schools, as well as ordering a school to become an academy.
According to the charity’s plan, regional schools commissioners should be able to impose an immediate school improvement plan after a certain number of complaints were made by parents.
Considering parents should have more choice, New Schools Network Director Nick Timothy said: “We believe the ‘parental trigger’ will be an important legal right for parents and a way of driving up standards in schools that aren’t performing well.”
“Free schools give more control to Head Teachers, teachers, parents and governors, rather than politicians and bureaucrats.
“But there needs to be more accountability in the system so parents can get the change they want when a local school is failing.”
Last week Timothy also suggested that more free schools are needed in the North, in order to boost improvement, after only three free schools were announced, part of the latest wave.
SCHOOLS NorthEast Director Mike Parker spoke to Schools Week, saying: “What the North needs and what the Government is keen to see is school-led improvement and we need initiatives that do this, rather than saying that free schools are the only answer.”
Further reading:
Let parents trigger heads’ sacking, says free school group (BBC)
Give parents the power to sack Head Teachers, charity urges (TES)
Charity wants parents to have power to sack Head Teachers (Schools Week)