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 that 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 and 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.”
