ABSTRACT
The educational system operates in a political context; all major decions are made by politicians, either nationally or locally, and are part of the complicated relationship between local and central government. The Secretary of State for Education and Science is a member of the Cabinet, and, as the political head of the Department of Education and Science, is accountable to Parliament for all aspects of state education. Every teacher, newly qualified, or well established, must help in the task of shaping public opinion in favour of the cause of education, and against the cuts. Two fundamental changes have occurred in the relationship between central and local government, which have vitally affected the provision of resources for education. The first relates to the declining share of the cost of local services borne by central government, and the second is the greater control exercised by the centre over the expenditure of local authorities.
