Schools that remain within their council have continued to
outshine those that converted to academies, according to new
research commissioned by the Local Government Association.
A new report, analysing Ofsted inspection outcomes by school
type, has found 93 per cent of council-maintained schools were
rated outstanding or good as of 31 January 2023, compared to 87
per cent of academies that were graded since they converted.
The LGA, which represents councils, says this is evidence as to
why councils should be given the powers to open new maintained
schools, and is a reminder of the excellent track record of
councils in school improvement and maintaining educational
standards. Councils were last able to open maintained schools in
2012.
It is also calling for councils to be given the powers to direct
all schools to admit pupils without a school place. Councils are
currently unable to require academies to do so.
The report, by Angel Solutions, 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
· 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
Cllr 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 choice 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.”
