CYP Now - Wilshaw urges councils to 'shoulder responsibility' for school improvement

Councils leaders must take responsibility for driving standards across all schools in their areas, Ofsted's chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw has said.

Speaking at the London Councils education summit in London, Wilshaw said councils have a "crucial role to play" in raising school standards.

"Whether elected mayors, council leaders or cabinet members, we need people who are prepared to stand up and be counted, to shoulder responsibility for their local schools, to challenge and support them regardless of whether they are academies or not," Wilshaw said.

He said education cabinet members should "take an interest" in who is being appointed to run academies and free schools in their area, that they should report any concerns about underperforming schools to their regional schools commissioner, and should meet regularly with school leaders.

"As education cabinet members, it is right that you take an interest in who is being appointed to run the academies and free schools in your area," he said.

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