Central Government control on education is increasing; local authority power is being decreased as local power is being decentralized to the schools. The semi-autonomous school is fast becoming a reality. The Local Education Authority (LEA) is in danger of being squeezed out by the centralized decentralization - unless the LEA can find a new role for itself. In the US, school districts faced with the same problem are rapidly adopting "customer service orientation" under the influence of Total Quality Management (TQM) and the need to get close to the customer. Hereford and Worcester LEA has been quietly adapting to this revolution. With "service" replacing "control", the local inspectorate has been changing policies and practices to suit the new situation. The LEA's inspection and review work, appraisal schemes and inservice and support services have all been geared to the needs of the self-developing, self-managing and self-reviewing school. Bayne-Jardine has spearheaded these changes. This book is an account of one LEA coming to terms with the more independent assertive schools on the one hand, and the aggressive demanding central Government on the other.