London Head Teachers Association x School Board for London Head Teachers Association

London Head Teachers Association x School Board for London Head Teachers Association

The London Head Teachers Association (LHTA) was founded in 1888 and held its first conference at Saffron Hill in July of that year. It was originally called the School Board for London Head Teachers Association with membership restricted to head teachers of School Board Schools. When the London County Council became responsible for education in 1902 the name was changed to the London Head Teachers Association and all head teachers in the LCC area became eligible to join.

The founders of LHTA felt a need for an organisation which could present to the SBL the special problems which faced head teachers. A recruitment brochure of c1960 (GLRO ref: Acc 2794/108) clarifies this stating that the aims of the LHTA are to
1) advance the interests of education,
2) to formulate opinion of Head teachers in London
3) to encourage and support members in their work and
4) to safeguard the Status and interests of Head teachers in all types of schools.

One of the most important contributions made by the LHTA was the part it played in establishing a National Federation of Head Teacher Associations in 1897 (see Acc 2794/116 for further details). LHTA is now the largest branch of the National Association of Head Teachers.

The LHTA is divided into district associations each governed by its own committee (see Acc 2794/36 for Minutes of District 10). Each district sends representatives to Council, which, along with several sub-committees, for example, professional and Specialist Schools, forms the central administrative body of LHTA.

The Association celebrated its Centenary in 1988 and continues to serve the interests of education and head teachers in the Greater London area.