6. The roles of the Local Authority (LA) and the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) in School Improvement

The LA: The LA has a statutory duty (as outlined above) to identify schools causing concern and those that are in decline or at risk of failure; to challenge and undertake timely interventions in schools to raise standards.

Where the LA has concerns about academy performance it will raise them initially with the school and/or directly with the Secretary of State via the RSC and through Ofsted.

RSC: The role of the RSC is to work with school leaders to promote and monitor academies and free schools. RSCs operate alongside Ofsted, the Education Funding Agency and LAs in discharging their responsibilities. The RSC’s role is to take action where academies and free schools are underperforming; decide on applications from maintained schools to convert to academy status; encouraging sponsors to operate in a region and improving poorly performing sponsors.

The role of the LA is to intervene directly to bring about rapid improvement in schools causing concern.

The RSC commissions other partners to improve underperforming free schools and academies.

Ofsted: Ofsted is responsible for inspecting and reporting on the quality of education that schools provide.

Gloucestershire County Council applies powers of intervention when deemed to be appropriate.

Further statutory guidance is detailed in
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-causing-concern--2

The role of the Local Authority with Academies

The LA seeks to establish positive relationships with academies and multi-academy trusts.

If an academy seeks support or training from the LA, this is available.

Although there is no statutory obligation for academy trusts to provide data to the LA, sharing data has bene ts for both parties.