Councillors must build links with schools as academy numbers rise: report

Ward councillors need to build informal relationships with schools in their area as the push towards all maintained schools becoming academies gains momentum, the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) has said.

In a report, Your School, Your Community, the CfPS said a lack of connection existed in some areas between councillors and schools despite local authorities still having a number of statutory duties associated with education and child welfare.

It added that – as the number of academies rapidly grows – councils faced the prospect of having “virtually no formal levers by which to hold schools to account for the outcomes of the children in their community”.

The CfPS highlighted cases where links between councillors and schools had been established and proved beneficial. This included examples where schools in special measures were being turned around.

“To do their job effectively, councillors need to develop relationships with public service organisations and key contacts in their ward, including those affecting children given their role as ‘corporate parents’ and their responsibility for safeguarding,” the centre said.

“Whilst individual councillors may not have a direct role in decision-making in relation to local schools, they have the broad duty to provide community leadership in their area. This means being aware of all the different organisations, resources and facilities that impact on residents of all ages, and working with other providers to promote the wellbeing of their place. This can involve identifying opportunities to influence local education, support school leaders and help improve school results.”
 
Su Turner, Head of the CfPS’ Children and Young People Programme, said: “I have worked with a number of schools across the country and I am always surprised by the lack of regular contact between councillors and schools. As a chair of governors for over four years not once did my local councillor get in touch to find out about the school and how we could work together to improve outcomes for children – this is a missed opportunity and one that CfPS wanted to try and put right.

“We hope this report will help school and councilors to develop closer more productive relationships in the future which will also assist council’s to better fulfil their statutory duties.”