An increasing number of parents believe local government should be able to intervene in struggling free schools, according to a survey by London Councils.
Some 68% believe councils should be able to step in, compared with 62% last year.
The proportion of parents who feel local authorities should have influence over school places rose from 76% to 81%.
The poll also revealed councils are the first port of call for parents who are concerned about leadership and governance problems in their child’s school – 41% would contact their local authority for help compared with 28% who would go to Ofsted.
Cllr Peter John, London Councils’ executive member for children and young people, said: ‘If you’re a parent and you’re worried about leadership or staff issues at your local school, it’s only natural you’d turn to your local council where they know the local issues. But councils don’t have formal oversight over free schools and academies, which is evidently confusing for parents, as this survey reveals.
‘What’s more, parents increasingly support a council role in influencing schools to expand, if there is clear local need to build more places. This isn’t surprising given the scale of the shortage in London.
‘Of course head teachers should run schools day-to-day, but it’s clear from this survey that on the wider issues, parents want a council role. The Government should listen to mums and dads and allow councils to act in parents’ interests.’