Approved Schools (Teachers)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 March 1968.

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Photo of Mr Norman St John-Stevas Mr Norman St John-Stevas , Chelmsford 12:00, 28 March 1968

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he now proposes to take to provide an appeal procedure for members of the teaching profession dismissed from approved schools.

Photo of Mr James Callaghan Mr James Callaghan The Secretary of State for the Home Department, Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee, Treasurer, Labour Party

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's similar Question on 15th February.—[Vol. 758, c. 389.]

Photo of Mr Norman St John-Stevas Mr Norman St John-Stevas , Chelmsford

Will the right hon. Gentleman go on record as saying that since teachers in approved schools have extremely onerous tasks placed on them by the nature of their employment, the least that should be done is to give them equality of tenure with other members of the teaching profession?

Photo of Mr James Callaghan Mr James Callaghan The Secretary of State for the Home Department, Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee, Treasurer, Labour Party

I have been brought up on systems in which there was always proper disciplinary machinery and the proper method of appeal for staff. It is, therefore, my anxiety that similar conditions should be introduced in the approved schools. Until I can get legislation for this purpose, I have set up a system, which I shall not describe to the House in detail now, about which I think there is considerable satisfaction in the approved school service as a temporary and ad hoc method of improving the methods of appeal for them.