Number of council education services in Wales should be cut by a third, report finds

The 22 council education services in Wales should be cut by a third, according to new report.

Instead of being run by councils, schools would be run by regional consortia with council leaders sitting on their boards.

Penned by former Tony Blair advisor Robert Hill, the report has given 85 options for consideration.

The Welsh Government has now published the report in full and will be consulting on the various options for the next 12 weeks.

If implemented, the changes could take effect as soon as 2014.

Education Minister Leighton Andrews has welcomed the report’s findings.

He said: “I’ve been very clear in my desire to raise standards and performance in education across the board. If we are to deliver the improvements in education that we know are needed we must not only focus on outcomes for learners, but we also have to achieve organisational coherence and excellence.

“I’d like to thank Robert for this comprehensive and exacting report. The options contained with it are compelling and have the potential to change the shape and structure of education delivery in Wales for the better.

“It’s now important that everyone fully engages with our consultation to help us make the improvements we need to move from being a good education system to a great one.”

In his report, Mr Hill said: “This review will have been worth undertaking if it leads to a clearer sense among teachers, school leaders, governors, local authorities, regional consortia and government policymakers of how to improve teaching and learning and raise standards in classrooms across Wales.

“If it does that and if there is a combined will to turn that sentiment into action then there will be no stopping the rate of improvement and progress that schools and young people across Wales can achieve.”

Commissioned by the Minister for Education and Skills in January 2013, the aim of the review was to look at the effectiveness of the current education delivery system.