Wilshaw urges councils to show 'relevance' to improving school standards

Wilshaw told delegates at the Association of Directors of Children’s Services annual conference in Manchester that some councils appeared to have “thrown in the towel” in being proactive over driving up local education standards because of a belief they can no longer influence non-maintained schools.

He said local authorities’ role had changed from one that focused on managing providers to now championing children and young people’s right to get a good education. This change was proving difficult for some local authorities “to come to terms with”, he added.

Wilshaw said that recent calls by the Local Government Association for councils to have their oversight role for all schools, including academies and free schools, reinstated were “all well and good” but underestimated existing powers to influence standards.

He told delegates: “Local authorities can already take action if they are worried about a non-maintained school on their patch. You can write to the Department for Education, academy sponsor or chief inspector. My postbag is not bulging with letters though.

“In Whitehall, the view is that local authorities are not doing enough. What is hard to deny is that the window of opportunity that you still have a part to play is closing. Councils are drinking in the last chance saloon on raising standards in school.”

However, Jo Moxon, assistant director of education at Doncaster Council, told the conference that she had written to the DfE eight weeks ago about a concern she had with under performing academies but had received no reply.  

Wilshaw said he would take the issue up if Moxon failed to get a satisfactory response from the DfE.

He added: “It is incumbent on you to show you are relevant and meaningful to the standards agenda. You must embrace change – there is no point complaining about being pushed to the margins and losing power.”