In recent times, the education landscape in England has witnessed significant changes, with the rise of academies and free schools alongside traditional local authority-maintained schools. A new report commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) sheds light on the performance of these schools in Ofsted inspections, and the results might come as a surprise to many.
The research, which covered over 20,000 primary and secondary mainstream schools across England, revealed that council-maintained schools consistently outperform academies in Ofsted inspections. The data showed that a staggering 93% of local authority-maintained schools achieved either an 'outstanding' or 'good' rating, compared to 83% of academies with the same ratings.
Delving further into the report, it became evident that this trend is more pronounced in primary schools, with 93% of local authority-maintained primary schools achieving 'outstanding' or 'good' ratings, compared to 85% of primary academies. The figures were slightly lower for secondary schools, with 88% of local authority-maintained secondary schools receiving 'outstanding' or 'good' ratings, while 78% of secondary academies received the same ratings.
These findings have sparked discussions among educators, policymakers, and parents. In 2022, the Schools White Paper outlined ambitious plans to transition all schools to strong multi-academy trusts by 2030. While some supported the move, others raised concerns about the lack of support for struggling schools and the need for more research into effective strategies to turn them around.
Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Louise Gittins, highlighted the exceptional performance of council-maintained schools and stressed the importance of councils' central role in providing education. She called for recognition from the government of councils as excellent education partners. Similarly, Dr. Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), praised the value of a democratically organised and supported school system and advocated for councils to have the power to direct all schools, including academies, to ensure fair and equitable education for all.
On the other hand, the Department for Education (DfE) defended the academy reforms, stating that they played a crucial role in increasing the proportion of 'Good' or 'Outstanding' schools from 68% in 2010 to 88% in the last year. The DfE emphasised the positive impact of academy trusts in transforming outcomes for pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged ones.
The report has undoubtedly ignited a debate on the best approach to improving education across the country. While academisation has shown positive results in some cases, the exceptional performance of council-maintained schools, as highlighted in the research, cannot be ignored. The key lies in finding a balanced and evidence-based strategy that benefits all students and allows for continuous improvement in the education system.
As education stakeholders continue to grapple with this issue, it is crucial to remember that the ultimate goal is to provide every child with the very best education and schooling in life. By recognising the strengths of different school types and working collaboratively, we can ensure that all students receive the support and opportunities they need to succeed. Read the report here: Analysis of Ofsted Inspection Outcomes by School Type
NEU press release: LGA on council-maintained schools outperforming academies