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

The challenges, opportunities and risks of devo

By Martin Ford | 29 January 2026

The Government’s drive for devolution is set to radically alter the landscape of local government. The National Audit Office (NAO) and The MJ brought togethe...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Rebuilding the scaffolding to repair communities

By Paul Marinko | 28 January 2026

Community tensions have been rising in the last year, a new survey by Starfish Search has found. Paul Marinko talks to councils about the scale of the challe...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

How will the Government reform the funding system for councils?

By Rob Powell | 28 January 2026

'If the White Paper and provisional settlement provide effective, fair and sustainable reforms and financial solutions, that would be the perfect start to 20...

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Why we mustn't lose sight of people while we fix buildings

By Graham Duxbury | 26 January 2026

Graham Duxbury welcomes the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and says that localised support such as that offered by Groundwork will be critical to ensuring it d...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman