The Times reported two days ago that teachers at a supposedly outstanding school are on strike over violence on the part of some of their pupils. Where else, other than to a maintained school in the UK, are parents virtually obliged to send their children without assurances that they and their teachers will be safe? This is madness.
For three decades maintained (state) schools in the UK have been inspected and directed to death and we should not be surprised that non-teaching managers and leaders look out of school to secure their prospects, rather than to the parents. We should not be surprised that, in this particular school, classroom teachers are left to their own devices, strikes.
Far more important than inspecting schools, surely it is time for parents to be subject to inspection and approval before they are allowed to enroll their children in schools to which other people have entrusted their children.