LGA responds to PAC report on academies

“This damning report raises serious questions around academy financial governance and will be hugely concerning to parents and teachers across the country.

“The findings reinforce our call for councils to be allowed to step in and oversee failing academy finances, as they do with council-maintained schools that face financial challenges.

“It is now clear that the Department for Education does not have effective oversight of spending in more than 7,000 academies.

“Councils, which have vast experience running large budgets, are best placed to do this. Not only would this ensure democratic accountability, it would give parents the certainty and confidence in knowing that their child’s school is able to deliver the best possible education and support, without risk of financial failure.”