ILEA's plans
Sir: The present plans of the Inner London Education Authority for 11plus transfer, conflict with section 76 of the Education Act, 1944, which states that 'local education authorities shall have regard to the general principle that, so far as is compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure, pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents."
There seems to be no valid reasons to prevent parents choosing four or five schools in order of preference so that if schools are over-subscribed or headmasters consider that pupils would have difficulty with the courses offered, parents will be able to obtain their second, third, fourth or fifth choice. The Inner London Education Authority could make good use of the experience of the Universities Central Council on Admissions who provide a flexible procedure for multiple choice.
Parents correctly object to selection by officials of a Local Education Authority and the position is aggravated if the officials do not possess professional qualifications.
A major problem in the Inner London Education Authorities appears to be the lack of professional qualifications in Education among its senior officials.
During the post-war period most graduates who expect to be involved in educational policy, have obtained qualifications in education in addition to subject degrees. Unfortunately the Inner London Education Authority does not seem to be able to attract sufficient wellqualified applicants for such posts as Chief Education Officer or Deputy Education Officer to make appointments from applicants with qualifications in Education.
Since the early twenties there has been a steady outflow of families from the Inner London Area, the population has fallen by nearly two million and the educational achievements are below the national average and seventeenth among the education authorities of the GLC.
The percentage of the age group going to universities from ILEA is 7.1 per cent, the figures from the four most successful outer boroughs are Kingston 13 per cent, Bromley 13.2 per cent, Barnet 16.2 per cent and Richmond 16.4 per cent.
With entry into Europe, a review of the Inner London Education Authority is most necessary. Visitors from member countries will form a pbor impression of English education if they regard many schools in the Inner London Area as representative of the achievements of education in this
country. Richard Wort
Knole Cottage, 69 Murray Road, Wimbledon, SW19.
Without consent
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