Nursery World - Town hall leaders flag academies' capacity concerns

Schools may become disconnected from local need once they all become academies, local authority chiefs have warned, as more than half a million children receive their primary offers today (Monday).

The changes could mean councils can no longer force schools to create new places to deal with demand – with 336,000 more needed by 2024 – the Local Government Association (LGA) claimed.

The association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, fears such powers will flow away from councils – organisations with local knowledge – to central government.

The body highlights how in its Educational Excellence Everywhere White Paper, the Government states councils will retain the responsibility for meeting demand.

But the LGA has called on the Government to explain exactly how town halls, which according to the association have created 300,000 extra primary places since 2010, will be able to continue doing its job in future.

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