ABSTRACT
One can claim no more for the education committee as a starting point in an analysis of democratic control of education than this: it is the body through which a local council exercises, within its own limited sphere, its policy for education. The composition of the committee is subject to Ministerial approval: it must have a majority of elected members but must also have as co-opted members persons experienced in education. Divisional education officers, or other district officers, are always likely to be necessary regardless of whether they serve a district committee or not. For county secondary schools the LEA makes an Instrument of Government: the size of the body and its representation varies but will often include university, church and industry as well as education committee or other local council members. The governing bodies of colleges of further education run by local education authorities are, in comparison with their primary and secondary counterparts, more broadly based and more powerful.
