ABSTRACT
Conservative Education Ministers have consistently shown a lack of commitment towards the state system. The powers of the London Education Authority were reduced and, from the schools' viewpoint, the service which they provided was changed beyond recognition. If the 1980s was a bad time to be working in state schools, it was even worse for those working in local authorities. The great paradox of the Conservative Government's period of office was the simultaneous introduction of both greater centralisation and greater decentralisation. Sir Keith Joseph's views on the inappropriateness of the state's role in education stemmed from his market-oriented philosophy, which was so influential on Margaret Thatcher's premiership. One of the frustrations for school leaders was the ineffectiveness of the Opposition to the Conservative policies. The Government, for most of the period, had a clear, radical vision and introduced policies which were consistent with this philosophy.
