Stories + Views Posted on Who should determine education policy in this country? The education of our children is vital to the socio-economic success of our country. One would therefore assume that such an important and influential system would be organised and planned strategically by experienced and knowledgeable people. If that is agreed, then why do we as a society leave it in the hands of career politicians who seem mainly to be hoping to be remembered for implementing their own view of what should happen in state schools, whilst simultaneously sending their children to private schools and thence, top universities? To risk so much on the whim of one individual, and some would say, a privileged one at that, just does not make sense. I understand that there are enormously diverse opinions held by the populace as a whole, but to base an opinion on just having been a pupil yourself ( and quite often not even at a state school), is not a particularly strong, let alone professional, basis from which to run our country's education system, let alone change it! Receive new LSN posts by email Comments, replies and queries This is a fascinating and complex issue. Of course, we need schools to be accountable: to our politicians (who we elect), to our parents, to our pupils, to our communities. By removing LA control from schools, politicians at a local level have no influence over policy now, though there is a case that they should to a