Responding to new statistics on primary and secondary school
offers Cllr , Chair of the LGA’s
Children and Young People Board, said:
“Since 2010 councils have created more than 800,000 extra new
places, and more than 85 per cent of these were in schools rated
by Ofsted as good or outstanding.
“This is a demonstrable record that they are doing everything
they can to rise to the challenge of ensuring no child goes
without a place and receives a high quality education.
“However as we have previously warned, these figures show demand
is reducing in primary schools but increasing in secondary
schools. With nearly 70 per cent of secondary schools now
academies or free schools, the lack of any council power or
influence over the expansion and admissions policies of academies
and free schools is a real concern.
“Councils must be given powers to force schools to expand if
local agreement cannot be reached voluntarily where this is in
the best interests of new and existing pupils. Most academies
will be keen to work with their local authorities, but in the
minority of situations where this isn’t the case, appropriate
powers are vital to ensure all children get a suitable place.
“Councils should also have the lead role in judging and approving
applications for new free schools to make sure they’re
appropriate for communities, and will need to be able to place
vulnerable children in the schools that can offer them the best
support.
“In addition, they need to be given the powers and funding to
open new council-maintained schools where there is a need for
additional places. It makes no sense for councils to be given the
responsibility to plan for school places but then not allowed to
open schools themselves.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
Secondary and primary
school applications and offers: March and April 2018
