ACCESS FOR PARENT OR PUPIL

record. ACCESS FOR PARENT OR PUPIL? In much of the discussion it has been assumed that it is a parent who seeks the information. If access is seen as part of the right of autonomy of the individual, one might ask why parents, rather than the children themselves, should have access. If it is seen as part of control over quality of education, the parent might ask why the child should be given access at all. In most cases the issue raises no problems, but estranged parents using the child to fight their bat ties or rebellious teenagers seeking recognition of their maturity and autonomy against over-protective or interventionist parents may see it as an important issue of principle. The teacher may thus stand in the cross-fire between them. ft is as well to know the legal position. The general law is somewhat ambivalent on parents and children, and indeed the rights of children have only recently begun to be recognised. The House of Lords case of Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech AHA is important in setting out the basic