Schools that have stayed within their council continue to perform better than those that have become academies, research commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals.
Commenting, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said,
“These latest findings demonstrate yet again the value of a democratically organised and supported school system.
“We know individual schools achieve well and others not so well. This report is not about individual Isle of Wight schools or individual local authorities. It’s about all schools nationally and their Ofsted inspection grade.
“Using this measure, the report found: As of January 2023, 93 per cent of council-maintained schools were rated outstanding or good, compared to 87 per cent of schools that were inspected after becoming academies.
“Thus, supporting the NEU’s own view in their earlier 2022 analysis ‘The Government’s flawed case for a fully trust-led system’.
“It concluded: ‘Maintained schools are more likely to improve their Ofsted rating to good or outstanding than sponsor-led academies.’
“How then, do we focus on the education of all children and young people, not just those in the individual school?
“The LGA’s two key recommendations are sensible, equitable and would aid ‘levelling-up’.
- There is a pressing need for greater local democratic oversight and coordination of admissions. Give councils power to direct all schools including academies to take in pupils. It would be fairer and more equitable and help ensure vulnerable pupils’ needs are met.
- Allow LAs to open new maintained schools, if needed, boosting their ability to respond to demographic changes with quality provision.
“The findings and reality show the intrinsic harm of the Government’s push to full academisation. It has created a fragmented and wasteful school system, with huge duplication of roles and money wasted on centralised, often long-distance bureaucracy.
“If Government were genuinely serious about improving our school system and making it more equitable, it would enact the LGA’s recommendations.”
