Education grant cuts would put school improvements at risk, councils warn

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The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that cuts go education grants would put schools at

The Local Government Association (LGA) says ministers intend to allocate £50 million from next September to cover duties they have received £450 million for in the past. 

The LGA, which represents more than 370 English councils, has warned the move could impact negatively on the access for pupils to speech therapy and physiotherapy, as well as good attainment levels. 

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  Schools closed: Teachers stage 24-hour strike to complain over funding

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  Schools lose up to £1,453 funding PER PUPIL thanks to Government cuts

The grants have previously allowed councils to plan ahead for more school places and run criminal checks before recruiting staff, the LGA said. 

Chairman of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Richard Watts, said: “89% of council-maintained schools are now rated as either good or outstanding by Ofsted. Only this month, in its annual report, inspectors recognised the increase in school performance overall across the country was a direct result of the number of council-maintained primary schools improving during 2015-16.

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The LGA said it would impact pupils’ access to speech therapy and physiotherapy

“Cutting councils’ school improvement budgets risks the long-term work and planning that has been put in place. 

It is absurd that this Government is cutting funding for struggling schools

John Pugh, Liberal Democrat education spokesman

“Councils’ track record of helping to improve schools with their local knowledge, expertise and democratic oversight cannot be ignored. With the majority of secondary schools now academies, Ofsted has also found that more work needs to be done to improve these schools, especially in northern parts of the country and in the Midlands. 

“Councils are key to unlocking that improvement. Allowing them to intervene early and use their vast experience would help these schools to deliver the high-quality education that all of our children deserve.” 

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Liberal Democrat education spokesman John Pugh said the government cuts were ‘absurd’

Liberal Democrat education spokesman John Pugh said: “It is absurd that this Government is cutting funding for struggling schools while spending £60 million a year on expanding grammars. 

“We should be investing to ensure every child has a chance to succeed, not consigning thousands of pupils to the scrapheap. 

“The Government must explain how cutting councils’ school improvement budgets is compatible with building a country that works for everyone.”