Analysis finds maintained schools 'outperform' academies

The Local Government Association (LGA) found that 86 per cent of council-maintained schools are now rated “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted, compared with 82 per cent of academies.

It also found that “inadequate” council-maintained schools are more likely to improve if they stay with their local authority, rather than being forced to convert to an academy, according to Ofsted figures.

In addition, 98 per cent of council-maintained schools improved in their first Ofsted inspection after being rated “inadequate” compared with 88 per cent of academies.

The LGA says the findings further undermine the government's plans to turn all maintained schools into academies by 2022 and for all schools to be part of a multi-academy trust (MAT). The government says the measures, outlined in the education white paper Educational Excellence Everywhere, will improve standards.

They also come as Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is reportedly considering allowing the best-performing councils to manage their own academy chains, due to pressure from backbench Conservatives.

In evidence submitted to the recent education committee inquiry into MATs, the LGA called for councils to be able to set up academy chains.

However, Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said this move would not address the problems of the white paper.
 
“If this rumour proves true, it is just a small climb-down which doesn’t address the fundamental weaknesses of the white paper,” Bousted said.
 
“The government will still be left as judge and jury over whether local authorities meet its criteria to run schools. Schools will still be forced to go through a completely unnecessary and expensive legal process to change into academies which will divert their heads’ attention away from running the school and improving children’s learning.
 
“The government still cannot produce any evidence that becoming an academy improves education."

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, described the idea as “absurd”.

“It would cost millions of pounds to create these new structures for no good purpose," she said. "It certainly would not be the U-turn that parents, heads and governors, councillors – in fact just about everybody – seek.
 
“The Education Secretary has failed to reject the idea that forcing all maintained schools into MATs is just not the best option for England’s education system."

Morgan is due to appear before the education committee to discuss the academy plans on Wednesday.

For an analysis of how council-maintained and academy schools perform in Ofsted inspections see the latest issue of CYP Now magazine or click here.