Agenda item

The council’s role  with maintained , academy and free schools - exploring what our governance and influencing levers are in a changing context,  and how the council can  promote good performance, and tackle poor performance.

Report from the Academies Commission attached.

6.1  The chair introduced the item by referring to the two reports circulated: ‘Should We Shed The Middle Tier’, by LGiU (Local Government information Unit), and ‘Unleashing Greatness’ by the Academies Commission. He referred to the recommendations, principally for central government, set out on pages 11 and 12, and noted that they would give a clearer and stronger role for local government in relation to academies.

6.2  Concerns were raised that academies are getting around the transparent and fair selection process by holding social meetings with parents and using this to covertly influence the application process.

6.3  A member reported that she had recently attended a LiGU meeting about the report circulated. She reported that concerns were raised that academies were more likely to expel or exclude pupils. Another member referred to recent data from the Department of Education, reported in the media, that shows a significantly higher rate of exclusion by academies , compared to  the maintained schools sector.

6.4  There was a discussion about the gap between the wishes and expectations on local authorities to hold academies to account and maintain a coherent educational framework, and their actual powers. Merril Haeusler, Director of Education Children's and Adults' Services, commented that while there have been changes to Local Authorities powers the council has never walked away from its responsibilities. She said that the council work with the vast majority of schools , and both officers and councillors are welcome in all academies. However she acknowledged that the authority have found it more difficult to develop a constructive professional relationship with Harris, but she reported that they are working to turn this around.

6.5  The Director of Education Children's and Adults' Services said that 12 months ago local authorities were told that the council had no role in holding to account, and ensuring there are good standards, in academies and Free Schools, but before Christmas the Secretary of State announced that local authorities do a have an overall responsibility for the provision of public education. She commented that the Secretary of state cannot run thousands of schools in London from a central educational department.

6.6  She went on to report that Southwark schools are in the top quartile and all schools are signed up for a relationship with the council, which is based on: support, challenge, intervention. She said that she is very proud of Southwark schools and that the admissions process is going from strength to strength. On the issue of exclusions she said that the council need to give schools some credit because leaders have worked tirelessly to improve their practice; 9/10 pupils now leave a school under managed transfers, which are much more likely to be successful. She reported that the council is also working closely with the voluntary sector to provide alternative provision for children where mainstream provision has not worked.

6.7  The Director of Education Children's and Adults' Services commented that she agreed that there is a need for a middle tier , and commented that the approach the council is presentably taking is based on partnership. She also drew the committee’s attention to the number of emerging Free Schools and the need for close observation. The Director referred to the LiGU recommendation that the local authorities be given overall control when boroughs have a majority of academies and reported that schools in Southwark give a proportion of their income to fund School Improvement Officers.

6.8  A member queried the channels available to local authorities if there are problems; given the council has little or no power. The Director of Education Children's and Adults' Services responded that usually issues are raised with the Secretary of State, however,  if it is a safeguarding matter the council has statutory powers to act. A member asked if going to the Secretary of Sate is effective and the Director commented that Department of Education officials are not on the ground, so their response is not always effective, whereas the council’s local position mean it is often in a better position to act.

6.9  A member commented that if a child is excluded the council has obligations. The Director agreed and said she has just returned from a meeting with a head about a managed move.

6.10  A member asked children’s services officers about recent figures that indicated that Southwark has a high rate of children waiting for adoption. Kerry Crichlow, Director of Strategy & Commissioning, explained that the Department for Education has agreed with the council that the figures referred to are not accurate; better data will be provided by the end of March. However, she said, the council is not complacent and reported that there is an Adoption Task Force. The member asked how big the scale of the discrepancy is and the Director of Strategy & Commissioning explained that it is around a half or two thirds. She reported that they are still agreeing the criteria so it is not straight forward.

6.11  The chair recommended that the committee report our anxiety about the lack of local powers of oversight of academies and free schools by local authorities to cabinet. A member queried whether the committee should be lobbying locally or to central government. The chair said the committee can recommend that the cabinet support the LiGU proposal to lobby government for a great role for local authorities and another member commented that this position had cross party support at LiGU.

RESOLVED

The committee will recommend that the Cabinet support the LiGU to lobby the government for councils to be given back powers to monitor the performance of academies.