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Education review could remove school role from councils | Education review could remove school role from councils |
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Local councils in Wales could lose responsibility for running schools as part of a wide-ranging review. | Local councils in Wales could lose responsibility for running schools as part of a wide-ranging review. |
It follows concern about pupils' performance and damning reports into some of Wales' 22 local education authorities (LEAs). | It follows concern about pupils' performance and damning reports into some of Wales' 22 local education authorities (LEAs). |
Education Minister Leighton Andrews warned the review will not rule anything out. | Education Minister Leighton Andrews warned the review will not rule anything out. |
But local government leaders said they were "vehemently opposed" to cutting councils out of the system. | But local government leaders said they were "vehemently opposed" to cutting councils out of the system. |
In a statement to the Welsh assembly, Mr Andrews said: "I have given local authorities time and money to get their house in order, but the evidence is overwhelming that this has not occurred." | In a statement to the Welsh assembly, Mr Andrews said: "I have given local authorities time and money to get their house in order, but the evidence is overwhelming that this has not occurred." |
He said the "fragmentation" of education services with the creation of 22 councils in the mid-1990s was a factor behind a downturn in performance by pupils a decade later. | He said the "fragmentation" of education services with the creation of 22 councils in the mid-1990s was a factor behind a downturn in performance by pupils a decade later. |
The Welsh government launched a programme of reform in education following disappointing results from an international comparison of school standards in 2009. | The Welsh government launched a programme of reform in education following disappointing results from an international comparison of school standards in 2009. |
LEAs have been grouped into four regional consortia that have been charged with a responsibility to improve schools. | LEAs have been grouped into four regional consortia that have been charged with a responsibility to improve schools. |
They have been up and running since September, but Mr Andrews told the Senedd chamber that "overall progress is, to put it mildly, patchy". | They have been up and running since September, but Mr Andrews told the Senedd chamber that "overall progress is, to put it mildly, patchy". |
Options for the review, which will report by the end of March next year, include: | Options for the review, which will report by the end of March next year, include: |
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Mr Andrews warned it could go as far as a proposal to remove all education functions from local government and create regional school boards accountable to the Welsh government, possibly without local council representation. | Mr Andrews warned it could go as far as a proposal to remove all education functions from local government and create regional school boards accountable to the Welsh government, possibly without local council representation. |
Since introducing a new inspection process in 2010, the schools inspectorate Estyn has not given any authority its top "excellent" rating. | Since introducing a new inspection process in 2010, the schools inspectorate Estyn has not given any authority its top "excellent" rating. |
Two of them - Anglesey and Blaenau Gwent - have been put in special measures. | Two of them - Anglesey and Blaenau Gwent - have been put in special measures. |
An earlier report in March 2011 said a review should be conducted in autumn 2013 to decide whether structural changes were needed, but Mr Andrews said he was not prepared to wait until then. | An earlier report in March 2011 said a review should be conducted in autumn 2013 to decide whether structural changes were needed, but Mr Andrews said he was not prepared to wait until then. |
'Lost patience' | 'Lost patience' |
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said it was "vehemently opposed" to removing education from councils and that recently-introduced changes need time to bed in. | The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said it was "vehemently opposed" to removing education from councils and that recently-introduced changes need time to bed in. |
WLGA leader Bob Wellington said: "This will fundamentally damage the principle of local democratic control and accountability, and undermine the ability of local communities to shape the educational future of young people." | WLGA leader Bob Wellington said: "This will fundamentally damage the principle of local democratic control and accountability, and undermine the ability of local communities to shape the educational future of young people." |
Mr Wellington, who is also Labour leader of Torfaen council, said councils had met many of Mr Andrews' demands, including passing on more funding to schools and grouping schools into performance bands. | Mr Wellington, who is also Labour leader of Torfaen council, said councils had met many of Mr Andrews' demands, including passing on more funding to schools and grouping schools into performance bands. |
Opposition parties said the review was an admission of failure by the Labour minister. | Opposition parties said the review was an admission of failure by the Labour minister. |
Conservative education spokeswoman Angela Burns said: "Do we honestly think that centralisation is the best course of action?" | Conservative education spokeswoman Angela Burns said: "Do we honestly think that centralisation is the best course of action?" |
She added: "We have massive problems of underperformance in our education system, but we need a level-headed evidence-based approach to driving up standards not a bull in a china shop." | She added: "We have massive problems of underperformance in our education system, but we need a level-headed evidence-based approach to driving up standards not a bull in a china shop." |
Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas said education must not be a used as a "wedge to drive through local government reform". | Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas said education must not be a used as a "wedge to drive through local government reform". |
"It is widely agreed that educational standards across Wales need to be improved and I am glad that the minister has opened this debate," he said. | "It is widely agreed that educational standards across Wales need to be improved and I am glad that the minister has opened this debate," he said. |
Liberal Democrat AM Aled Roberts said: "Rather than providing stability and direction, today's decision throws a question mark over the whole future of education in Wales." | Liberal Democrat AM Aled Roberts said: "Rather than providing stability and direction, today's decision throws a question mark over the whole future of education in Wales." |
Philip Dixon, director of teaching union ATL Cymru, said the minister had "clearly lost patience" with local government. | Philip Dixon, director of teaching union ATL Cymru, said the minister had "clearly lost patience" with local government. |
"Some of the possibilities outlined are very radical indeed and could see local authorities lose any say over the delivery of education," he said. | "Some of the possibilities outlined are very radical indeed and could see local authorities lose any say over the delivery of education," he said. |
The NAHT Cymru union said apart from rare exceptions, schools had not had a positive experience of the consortium system. | The NAHT Cymru union said apart from rare exceptions, schools had not had a positive experience of the consortium system. |
Union director Anna Brychan said: "Clearly the minister is hearing the same messages." | Union director Anna Brychan said: "Clearly the minister is hearing the same messages." |
She welcomed the review, but said there needed to be local accountability for education standards and delivery. | She welcomed the review, but said there needed to be local accountability for education standards and delivery. |
NUT Wales secretary David Evans said teachers had to be consulted as part of the review. | NUT Wales secretary David Evans said teachers had to be consulted as part of the review. |
He said: "There has been a lack of consistency from local authorities and the rush to instigate regional consortia working has not helped and left many schools in limbo." | He said: "There has been a lack of consistency from local authorities and the rush to instigate regional consortia working has not helped and left many schools in limbo." |