Laura Sharman 14 April 2020

Councils call for suspension of academy conversions during Covid-19 crisis

Council leaders have warned the time and resources being spent on converting schools into academies is undermining efforts to provide enough school places for children during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the Government to suspend academy conversions to allow councils to focus on supporting schools and nurseries to stay open for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

It said 594 academy conversions are in the pipeline, involving the transfer of staff, assets, including land and property, and financial agreements.

The LGA also said councils have to pick up the bill if a school has a deficit when it converts.

Cllr Judith Blake, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: ‘Council staff are working flat out at reduced capacity, and taking council teams away from their primary duty of care to see through applications for academy conversions is clearly not in the interest of either councils or schools during this unprecedented time.

’We want to work with the Government to ensure that schools are given the support they need over the immediate term, and this includes urgently placing a temporary pause on academy conversions during this time.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Lifeguard - Shift Pattern 2

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 1B (scp 3-4) £12.45 to £12.65 per hour
We are looking for an experienced lifeguard to perform lifeguard duties for the main and teaching pools Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Lifeguard – Shift Pattern 1

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 1B (scp 3-4) £12.45 to £12.65 per hour
We are looking for an experienced lifeguard to perform lifeguard duties Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Lifeguard – Shift Pattern 2

Ribble Valley Borough Council
Scale 1B (scp 3-4) £12.45 to £12.65 per hour
We are looking for an experienced lifeguard to perform lifeguard duties Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recuriter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Business Support to Senior Leader

Wakefield Council
£24,790 - £25,183, Grade 4, 37 hours, Permanent
Are you flexible, looking for a challenge and a role where no two days are the same? Then this is the role for you! Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Locality Team Manager - East

Wakefield Council
£49,764 - £52,805, Grade 12, 37 hours, Permanent
We are looking for a Locality Team Manager to lead and manage a Locality Team Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner