Title

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Spending Review: Council-run schools to be consigned to history

Local authority-run schools will be a ‘thing of the past,’ the chancellor announced in his Spending Review today.

Local authority-run schools will be a ‘thing of the past,' the chancellor announced in his Spending Review today.

George Osborne said moving control of schools from local councils would save £600m on the Education Services Grant. 

He also announced the Government would phase out the ‘unfair' school funding system, replacing it with a new national Funding Formula from 2017.

Mr Osborne said: ‘We will phase out the arbitrary and unfair school funding system that has systematically under-funded schools in whole swathes of the country.

‘Under the current arrangements, a child from a disadvantaged background in one school can receive half as much funding as a child in identical circumstances in another school. 

‘In its place, we will introduce a new national funding formula.

'I commend the many MPs from all parties who have campaigned for many years to see this day come.'

Mr Osborne also pledged to deliver another 500 new free school and university technical colleges. 

 

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Unitarisation: What comes next?

By Steve Leach | 24 April 2026

Steve Leach and Colin Copus ask if there will be ‘a further influx of smaller unitary authorities based on real places and a socio-economic geography which m...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Southport Inquiry: a damning verdict

By Martin Ford | 23 April 2026

The inquiry into the devastating knife attack that claimed the lives of three young children in 2024 has delivered a damning verdict on the authorities invol...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

'Banging the table for children'

By Ann McGauran | 22 April 2026

The new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services’ passionate belief in the rights of children and young people shines through. Ann Mc...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Is income tax assignment a step change in English devolution?

By Mark Sandford | 22 April 2026

Kevin Muldoon-Smith and Mark Sandford say assigning a share of income tax locally could strengthen incentives for long-term, place-based strategy, but intern...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman