The HAS president indulged in a bout of nostalgia as he was introducing Peter Peacock.
Referring to the parent involvement with schools which is the latest addition to the ministerial agenda, Roy recalled a visit in the late 1970s to a west of Scotland school along with one of Her Majesty’s inspectors.
Their mission, and they chose to accept it, was to review the national development of modern studies in S1-S2.
Looking out of the head’s window, they noticed the janitor closing the gates. By way of conversation, the inspector asked if this was to keep the pupils in (truancy levels were above the national average). “No,” the head replied, “it’s to keep the parents out.”
We don’t think this was intended as a fond recollection of the good old days.
