WIREDGOV

Cllr Roy Perry responds to Sir Michael Wilshaw's comments on his ambitions for English education and the need for powerful political figures to have responsibility for the performance of local schools.

"Over 80 per cent of council maintained schools are currently rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted. Local authorities should be regarded as education improvement partners rather than as a barrier to change.

"Hundreds of schools, often in disadvantaged areas, are being turned around thanks to the intervention of local councils and it clear that strong leadership, outstanding classroom teaching and effective support staff and governors are the crucial factors in transforming standards in struggling schools.

"For parents, who are far more concerned with the quality of their child's education in the classroom than the legal status of the school, it is the council that they still turn to for advice and support. However, their current powers to intervene are strictly limited. The Education and Adoption Bill provides the ideal opportunity to right this wrong and should allow councils and the best maintained schools to share expertise and provide support to school leadership teams to ensure standards rapidly improve."