ABSTRACT

When one is analysing the prime causes of educational litigation one need look no further than the primitive instincts of parents to protect what they perceive to be the best interests of their children. The Education Acts do acknowledge the importance of parental wishes in a variety of ways. In 1977 the Taylor Report on School Governors proposed that there should be at least two elected parents on every board of governors. Allocating notional legal rights to parents as to the education of their children. Parental obligations as to the education of their children have been made more onerous by section 17 of the Education Act 1981. As a last resort parents can always turn to extra-legal direct action. Parliament took the bull by the horns and by section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 provided that children who were not receiving a proper education could be placed in the care of the local authority.