ABSTRACT
Ever since the 1944 Education Act, LEAs have played a key role at local level to ensure that schools and colleges are properly equipped and resourced to provide an appropriate education for local children and young people. During the ensuing fifty years, they have been subject to considerable pressures from central government, whatever the party in power, to ensure that statutory duties were fulfilled. Such responsibilities were largely concerned with administrative matters, such as educational provision for the area, admissions procedures, upkeep of buildings, staffing appointments, contracts and conditions of service and other legal obligations.
