Give parents power to remove head teachers, says free school group

The New Schools Network, a charity that helps set up free schools, put the proposals forward to the Education Select Committee, claiming that parents should have a legal right to force intervention in underperforming schools.

The proposed changes are similar to the ‘parent trigger law’ in the United States, and would require their regional school commissioner (RSC) to give a formal response to parents regarding complaints against a school.

The charity also called for the introduction of more free schools in areas of low standards to give parents more control over their children’s education.

Nick Timothy, director of the New Schools Network, said: “There needs to be more accountability in the system so parents can get the change they want when a local school is failing.

“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.”

The calls have been criticised by the National Association of Head Teachers, who feel the implementation of such powers would be counterproductive and turn headship into a ‘popularity contest’.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of NAHT said: "The parent voice is an important one in education and children do best in the schools where teachers and parents have a good relationship.

"Head teachers are already publicly and stringently accountable - to the extent that we are struggling to get people to do the job. Looking for new ways to sack them is hugely counterproductive and an appalling use of the New School Network's time.”

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