SSAT on the School-led System

Education in England is still in a transitional phase of moving to a school-led system. SSAT has long been an advocate of schools leading the system, in partnership with other stakeholders.

Despite several government initiatives in recent years, with academies, then multi-academy trusts and regional schools commissioners, there has not been enough open discussion on how we might realise the school-led system. If it was successful, the school-led system would ensure a high quality of education in every school throughout the country. This would require that each school took significant responsibility for the education of other schools in its locality, as well as of its own students.

However there is no clarity about the framework needed to ensure that the school-led system succeeds within sensible accountability measures – locally and nationally.

SSAT wants the school-led system to be successful but recognises the challenges the system faces. One of the most crucial of these is determining the middle tier: how can we ensure that all schools meet the needs of a locality and are accountable to that community?

This pamphlet by SSAT chief executive Sue Williamson examines three possibilities for the vital role of the middle tier: local authorities, regional school commissioners, and local area partnerships. She considers evidence from expert sources with detailed experience of each of these sectors on their strengths and challenges. She argues that local area partnerships could prove to be the best for returning power to a locality. Among other benefits, they can offer targeted hands-on support to schools, a buffer between schools and the centre, and a channel to share and integrate improvements across schools.

Among the implications she considers is what contribution local authorities, MATs and regional commissioners could make to this solution.

Throughout this pamphlet, Sue Williamson offers clear evidence-based rationale and argument for her position, but also an openness to alternative views, with key points and thoughts for discussion.