Under Local Management of Schools, which group gained responsibility for budgets and staffing, weakening the local authority?

• A. The local authority gained full control over budgets.
• B. Schools lost all autonomy
• C. The governors were given responsibility for managing budgets and staff, weakening the local authority.
• D. Parents were allowed to run the school board.

Answer: (C)

Devolution of control from the local authority to school governing bodies. Under Local Management of Schools, the responsibility for budgets and staffing moved to the school's governing body (the governors), giving schools financial and personnel decision‑making power. This shift weakens the local authority by reducing its direct control over how money is spent and who is employed at the school, while the governing body oversees budgets and hires within the delegated framework. This change aimed to increase school autonomy and accountability to parents and the community, rather than to the local authority.