126 THB BRITISH APPROACH TO PQUTXCS

"Minister of Education". His powers do not extend to Scotland,1
and Welsh education is placed under a separate department of
the Board. In the carrying out of its duties, the Board resembles
the Ministry of Health; for the actual running of schools and
colleges is in the hands of local authorities and private institu-
tions, subject to the control and encouragement of the Board.
The local authorities* schemes for education, and the by-laws
which they msfe to enforce school attendance, require thr*
Board's approval. Continuous control is exercised through His
Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, who are appointed by the
Board, and furnish it with reports, in the light of which it can
decide whether to make the usual grants of money to local
authorities. If the Board wishes the local authorities to develop
some particular part of their powers, or considers that they need
guidance on any point, it sends out Circulars. By this means
the Board can influence the curricula of schools, and keep the
education service in line with the general policy of the Govern-
ment. If, for example, that policy is to reduce public expenditure,
Circulars will be issued pointing out what economies the Board
thinks desirable; while the Minister of Transport plans a Road
Safety Campaign, the Board of Education will advise that
instruction on this matter be given to school cphildren. A recent
Circular requiring local authorities to make increased provision
for physical training in schools is a further example* A permanent
Consultative Committee, whose members have experience of
education, advises the Board as to this general control, and its
reports, together with those of the Inspectors, form a basis
for fresh legislation.

Many documents other than Circulars are issued by the Board,
notably a Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers. Thus, though
the Board does not lay down what is to be taught, nor what the
methods of teaching should be, it can collect and disseminate
the best available information;

Although it is the local authorities who engage teachers, the

1 See Ch. VI. The Scottish Office.