The role of the Local Authority in
securing quality choices in
education
Councillor Stephen Castle
Cabinet Member for Education
The Local Authority
Local Authorities have fewer resources, and reduced powers
and duties because:
– Austerity cuts will see budgets reduced by 25% over 4
years
– Accelerated process of school autonomy through the
amended Academies Act and the introduction of Free
Schools
– School autonomy will limit the ability of Local
Authorities to prioritise investment in areas such as
SEN, School Improvement, etc.
– The James Review proposals alongside reduced
capital spending will change the role of the Local
Authority
The Local Authority
This new landscape provides several new challenges to Local
Authorities and the way they are involved in and engaged
with Education going forward.
The new landscape provides four areas of challenge for the
Local Authority:
– Securing appropriate Pupil Places
– Supporting Academy bids and transitions
– ‘Powerful Champions of Educational Excellence’
– Strategic Lead, ensuring Knowledge and Skills for the
Future
Challenge 1:
Securing appropriate Pupil Places
• Need to maintain the position as
champion for children and
families and guardian of
securing appropriate pupil
places with high standards
• Need to develop a new
approach to provision through
commissioning the right type and
supply of education places at the
right time and in the right place
• Ensure fair access to all schools
and Academies and champion
parents’ rights
Challenge 2:
Supporting Academy bids and transitions
• Local Authorities can assist in brokering the provision of new
Academies and free schools
• Local Authorities can help governors in ensuring balanced
information is available to school governors to aid decisions
regarding transition to Academy status
• They can help shape the market to ensure coherence, choice
and diversity of provision, as well as being a provider of last
resort
• Coordinate competing proposals for Academies / free schools /
UTCs / studio schools in the interest of fairness and clarity for
parents
Challenge 3:
‘Powerful Champions of Educational Excellence’
• How do we retain relationships with and
intelligence about ALL schools in the
changing landscape?
• We need to redefine high standards beyond
the narrow measure of 5+ A*-C grades inc.
English and Maths
• How do we encourage use of the English
Baccalaureate?
• How do we ensure emphasis, where
appropriate, on higher academic standards
for vocational programmes?
Challenge 4: Strategic Lead,
ensuring Knowledge & Skills for the Future
• How do we advance the
employability and skills agenda to
ensure education system as a
whole
– is responsive to the needs of
industry?
– provides young people with the
skills sought after by business?
– enables our employees to
compete with Europe and the
world?
• How do we ensure provision of
vocational skills and
apprenticeships to foster economic
growth?