New Public-Sector Reform and Institutional Change

What are the consequences of placing financial control systems at school level? What impact has this had on the performance of state schools? In preparing this report, the authors gained access to three schools in Local Education Authorities in the North-West of England. Via a series of interviews with governors, head teachers and deputy heads, bursars and secretaries, they investigate: strategic planning and budget-setting processes; budget monitoring and accountability; changing institutional relationships; and changes in education and the role of local management in schools.