Union wants independent school governors to decide on appeals

A union is calling for sweeping changes to the way teachers appeal against being sacked.

Currently, the school's head carries out an investigation into complaints about teachers and then holds an inquiry with School governors.

Teachers can appeal but the same head and governors can sit in judgement.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) in Lancashire wants independent school governors to decide on appeals.

Secretary of the union in Lancashire Ken Cridland: "What could solve this is if the final appeal panel was a group of School governors from another school"

"School Governors would understand the problems of running a school but wouldn't be tainted by being directly connected with the school in question".

Lancashire County Council said they advise schools to keep the majority of school governors separate from any investigations that take place so they have independent governors for inquiries.