Call for more maintained schools to open as they continue to outperform academies
Katy Morton
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Local authority-run schools continue to ‘outshine’ those converted to academies, according to new research by the Local Government Association (LGA).
The report, which analyses Ofsted inspection outcomes by school type, finds that 93 per cent of council-maintained schools were rated outstanding or good as of 31 January 2023, compared to 87 per cent of academies since they were converted.
The LGA, which represents councils, say this is ‘evidence as to why local authorities should be given the powers to open new maintained schools.’ Councils were last able to open maintained schools in 2012.
It also claims it is a ‘reminder of the excellent track record of councils in school improvement and maintaining educational standards.’
The report also found, since August 2018:
- 72 per cent of council-maintained schools retained their outstanding rating, compared to 60 per cent of outstanding academies that received inspections in their current form and did not inherit grades from their former maintained school status.
- 40 per cent of academies without grade inheritance fell by at least one grade, compared with 28 per cent of maintained schools.
- 57 per cent of academies that were an academy in August 2018 improved to a good or outstanding grade, compared to 73 per cent of maintained schools from the same starting point.
The LGA is calling for councils to be given the powers to direct all schools to admit pupils without a school place. A power councils don’t currently have.
'Our research is further evidence of why councils should be allowed to open their own schools again'.
Councillor Louise Gittins, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said, ‘Our research is a reminder of the superb performance of council-maintained schools, and yet further evidence of why councils should be allowed to open their own schools again.
‘Academisation can be the right choice and a good one for some schools, and we fully recognise the positive progress schools that became academies have made.
‘Councils want to ensure that every child gets the very best education and schooling in life. That is why it is vital they are given a central role in providing education and that Government recognises councils as the excellent education partner they are.’
The National Education Union (NEU) said the ‘findings highlight the inherent harm of the Government’s push to full academisation within multi-academy trusts.’
Joint general secretary Mary Bousted explained, ‘Academisation has created a fragmented and wasteful school system, with huge duplication of roles and money wasted on centralised MAT bureaucracy.
‘It would be a step in the right direction if the LGA’s recommendations are enacted by this or any future Government which is serious about improving our school system and making it fairer and more equitable.’
