A significant proportion of the British public believes that local education authorities should be responsible for ruling upon complaints about teachers accused of misconduct or incompetence, as opposed to parents, the school governors itself or central Government, a survey has found. 29% of British adults opted for this, making it the most popular choice in a list of six possible options.
This comes following a recent announcement from the Government that the General Teaching Council will be abolished, leaving the issue of who or what will replace it uncertain. The Council maintained a register of qualified teachers, disciplined those accused of misconduct or incompetence and provided advice to ministers on the quality or teaching and learning. Although the government has not discussed who will carry these functions in the future, the survey has found that around one in three (29%) believe that local education authorities should take up the responsibility, with little variation in choice throughout Britain – on average, 28% of the public across all regions, including Scotland, preferred this option.
Just less than a quarter (24%), however, believe that a new and independent central body should be in charge. Another 18% would hand responsibility to school governors, while a further 11% think the head teacher should retain principle control of these issues.
Handing over control to parents or central Government are the least popular options; with just four percent and three percent respectively.
Additional editing by Hannah Thompson
