William Eichler 06 January 2017

LGA: Apprenticeship Levy ‘discriminates’ against council schools

Small council-maintained schools should be treated the same as small academies and faith schools and be exempt from the Apprenticeship Levy, say council chiefs.

The Levy, which will be introduced next April, will see all businesses including schools with a wage bill over £3m a year contributing 0.5% of that wage bill to fund new apprenticeships.

The Government has said schools which employ their own staff—such as academies and faith schools—and have a wage bill under £3m will be exempt from the Levy.

However, council-maintained schools with a wage bill that comes under the £3m threshold will still be required to pay because their staff are technically employed by a local authority which means they contribute to the overall wage bill of the council.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on Whitehall to exempt all schools—not just small academies and faith schools—from the Levy.

‘It is discriminatory for small council-maintained schools not to be exempted from the Apprenticeship Levy in the same way that small academies and faith schools will be,’ said Cllr Richard Watts, chair of the LGA's Children and Young People Board.

‘They will be forced to find additional money to pay the Levy, whilst an academy or faith school with an identical wage bill can invest that money in making sure their pupils get an excellent education.’

Cllr Watts added that once again council schools were being ‘dealt a poor hand compared to academies.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Project Support Officers

Durham County Council
Grade 10 £38,220 - £41,771
Two exciting Project Support Officer – SEND opportunities have arisen within our Home to School Transport team. One role is permanent and the other a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Cleaner

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata
Cleaner Grade 1 £24,796 pro rata 12.5 hours per week, whole time Permanent Required as soon as possible The children, staff, and governors of Chester Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£37,101 - £45,352
Class Teacher  M3-M6 £37,101 - £45,352 Full Time, Whole Time Temporary – required to cover maternity leave from Monday 5th January 2026 until the date Newton Aycliffe
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Supervisor

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata
Lunchtime Supervisor Grade 1  £24,796 pro rata 6.25 hours per week, term time only Permanent Required as soon as possible  The Governors of St Oswald Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Supervisor

Durham County Council
£24,796 part-time pro-rata
Lunchtime Supervisor Grade 1 £24,796 part-time pro-rata 6.25 hours per week, term time only Permanent Required from Monday 10th November (or as close Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner