Commentary on Sections Section 14 – Procedures for appointment of headteacher or deputy and participation of a Parent Council
54.Section 14 deals with the appointment procedures for senior posts in schools. The 1988 Act set out a detailed procedure for the appointment of headteachers and deputy headteachers and for parents’ involvement in that process through the School Board. The Act enables each education authority to develop their own procedures and requires the education authority to inform the Scottish Ministers and Parent Councils for schools in their area about their procedures for filling posts (section 14(1)). In addition, when a headteacher or deputy headteacher is to be appointed the education authority have to involve the Parent Council, where one exists, in the appointment process (section 14(2)). Section 14(3) enables the Parent Council to ask someone who is not a member of the council to assist it in carrying out its functions in connection with the appointment process. Section 14(4) places a duty on education authorities to ensure that appropriate training is made available to any Parent Council member or representative taking part in an appointment process.