A survey of 95 directors of children's services and lead members of children's services found the vast majority want autonomy to make decisions over opening new state schools, closing and merging academies and free schools, and increasing the number of places at existing schools regardless of their status.
Currently, local authorities have to get plans to expand state school provision signed-off by the Education Secretary, and have no say in the management of academies or free schools.
The survey, carried out by the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) and National Union of Teachers (NUT), found 91 per cent want powers to open new community schools, 87 per cent want to be able to close academies and free schools, and four out of five want to be able to propose the merger of an academy or free school or increase their size without having to get agreement from the Education Secretary.
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