ABSTRACT
There is an absolute need for a body with expertise and independence to ensure that any change is soundly based and not subject to political whim or prejudice. It is reasonable to see this task as the main role for National Curriculum Council (NCC) in the future. NCC was unanimous in saying that it would use HMI, but would also want to know more and more from local education authorities, carry out some very limited front-line work of its own, and commission some additional research. NCC and HMI resolved all the outstanding problems and the animosity was properly resolved. As it happens it was one of the last things that Eric Bolton, whose personal contribution to the national curriculum was considerable, did before he retired and Clarke emasculated the inspectorate. The tone of correspondence to NCC turned from the odd letter saying that they were getting too much to an avalanche of complaints that documents were not being received.
