Education authorities need powers to curb activities of school governors

Education authorities should have more power to curb the activities of school governors who act unreasonably, according to Cherie Booth, wife of the Labour leader, Tony Blair. Ms Booth, a QC specialising in education and employment law and a governor of a London primary school, writes in the Times Educational Supplement that recent legislation has given governors "power without responsibility". Under local management, governing bodies have taken over many responsibilities which used to rest with local authorities - for example, decisions on hiring and firing staff.

Ms Booth and Jessica Hill, a solicitor, argue that all governors should face compulsory training and should be subjected to appraisal. The National Union of Teachers has already called for local authorities to have the power to remove obstructive governors.