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Questions over Ofsted’s inspection of local authorities

Questions have been raised over why Ofsted is inspecting the role of local authorities in promoting educational standards when so many schools are now operating independently as academies.

It comes as the inspectorate publishes its framework for the inspection of local authorities. It expects to begin its first visits next month.

The aim is to assess “how well local authorities carry out their statutory duties in promoting high standards in schools and among other providers so that children achieve well and fulfil their potential”.

However, inspection will not be universal and will only take place where “concerns about performances are apparent” or where education secretary Michael Gove has requested it. 

Local authorities have not been inspected in this way since 2005 and will receive five days’ notice of an inspection. The framework says that if a local authority is judged not to have “adequate capacity to support schools to improve” then they will be reported to the secretary of state.

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