WIREDGOV

Cllr Roy Perry, Chairman of the LGA's Children and Young People Board, responded to the Education For All Bill announced in the Queen's Speech, which includes plans to end the statutory role of councils in school improvement, and give the Secretary of State new powers to force all schools in a council area to become academies if the council is underperforming or unviable in its support for those schools

"The LGA strongly believes that all schools should have the choice to stay with their council or convert to academy status, and remains opposed to any forced academisation. Hundreds of schools, often in disadvantaged areas, are being turned around thanks to the intervention of local councils, highlighting that they should be regarded as education improvement partners rather than as a barrier to change. Our recent analysis of the grades achieved by all schools under the more rigorous Ofsted inspection framework proved that 81 per cent of council-maintained schools are rated as ‘good' or ‘outstanding', compared to 73 per cent of academies and 79 per cent of free schools. Schools should not be forced down the academy route unless they make that decision themselves.

"Only a handful of Multi-Academy Trusts currently maintain more than 10 sponsored academies, compared to councils, which maintain large numbers of schools and have significant experience and expertise, so we will be keen to explore how councils will be considered ‘unviable' to maintain schools. In addition, councils will continue working with all schools to deliver the education needed by individual communities, from making sure every child has a suitable school place, to protecting vulnerable children. Suggesting a council is ‘unviable' ignores this crucial role that councils will continue to play in education.

"If the statutory role of councils in school improvement and holding them to account ends, parents will have to raise any problems with one of the eight remote Regional Schools Commissioners. We have serious concerns about the capacity and local knowledge of each individual Commissioner to effectively hold more than 2,500 schools to account, particularly when each RSC already has between 53 and 133 failing academies to turn around. The LGA is against the transfer of significant powers relating to education to unelected civil servants, and it is vital that local oversight of schools by democratically elected councils is maintained. Councils must be allowed to work with RSCs to drive up education standards in their areas.

"The Government has announced its intention to cut £600 million from the Education Services Grant awarded to councils and academies to help ensure that children are getting the education they deserve, from helping to provide speech therapy and physiotherapy, to carrying out DBS checks on staff and providing music services in schools. It also helps to plan for the new school places that are urgently needed, ensuring that every child has a place at a good school near their home. Last year, £815 million was spent on the ESG, and we are still seeking clarification on how the £600 million cuts will be achieved, and how quickly, without impacting on welfare and standards.

"The LGA remains keen to work with the Department for Education to ensure that all partners are working together to deliver the excellent education that our children deserve, regardless of where they live or the structure of their school."