local education authority

Local education authorities (LEAs) were local councils in England that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction. The term was used to identify which council (district or county) is locally responsible for education in a system with several layers of local government. Local education authorities were not usually ad hoc or standalone authorities, although the former Inner London Education Authority was one example of this.

Responsible local authority

England has several tiers of local government and the relevant local authority varies. Within Greater London the 32 London borough councils and the Common Council of the City of London are the local authorities responsible for education; in the metropolitan counties it is the 36 metropolitan borough councils; and in the non-metropolitan counties it is the 27 county councils or, where there is no county council, the councils of the 55 unitary authorities. The Council of the Isles of Scilly is an education authority. Since the Children Act 2004 each local education authority is also a children's services authority and responsibility for both functions is held by the director of children's services.Children Act 2004 c. 31 There are 152 local education authorities in England.

Functions

Local education authorities had some responsibility for all state schools in their area.

*They are responsible for distribution and monitoring of funding for the schools
*They are responsible for co-ordination of admissions, including allocation of the number of places available at each school
*They are the direct employers of all staff in community and VC schools
*They have a responsibility for the educational achievement of looked-after children, i.e. children in their care
*They have attendance and advisory rights in relation to the employment of teachers, and in relation to the dismissal of any staff
*They are the owners of school land and premises in community schools.

Until recently, local education authorities were responsible for the funding of students in higher education (for example undergraduate courses and PGCE) whose permanent address is in their area, regardless of the place of study. Based on an assessment of individual circumstances they offer grants or access to student loans through the Student Loans Company.

History

Creation

The term was introduced by the Education Act 1902 (2 Edw.7, c. 42). The Act designated each local authority; either county council and county borough council; would set up a committee known as a ''local education authority'' (LEA).Bryne, T., ''Local Government in Britain'', (1994) The councils took over the powers and responsibilities of the school boards and technical instruction committees in their area. Municipal boroughs with a population of 10,000 and urban districts with a population of 20,000 were to be local education authorities in their areas for elementary education only. The LEAs' role was further expanded with the introduction of school meals in 1906 and medical inspection in 1907.

In 1904 the London County Council became a local education authority, with the abolition of the London School Board. The metropolitan boroughs within London were not education authorities, although they were given the power to decide on the site for new schools in their areas, and provided the majority of members on boards of management.

Reform

The system continued unchanged until 1965, when the London County Council was replaced by the Greater London Council. The twenty outer London boroughs became local education authorities, while a new Inner London Education Authority, consisting of the members of the GLC elected for the inner boroughs covering the former County of London was created.

In 1974 local government outside London was completely reorganised. In the new metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan boroughs became LEAs. In the non-metropolitan counties the county councils were the education authorities.

In 1986, with the abolition of the Greater London Council, a directly elected Inner London Education Authority was formed. This however only existed until 1990, when the twelve inner London boroughs assumed responsibility for education.

In 1989, under the Education Reform Act 1988, the LEAs lost responsibility for higher education, with all polytechnics and colleges of higher education becoming independent corporations.

A further wave of local government reorganisation during the 1990s led to the formation of unitary authorities in parts of England, which became local education authorities.

A local educational authority award is an award given ''to'' the local educational authority, as opposed to an award given ''by'' the LEA.

List of local authorities responsible for education

There are currently 152 local education authorities in England. Below they are listed alphabetically by region.Department for Education and Skills
- LA Contact Details

See also

* Special education
*Dyslexia support in the United Kingdom

References

External links

DfES: The Role of the Local Education Authority in School Education

{{Local government services in the United Kingdom

Education in the United Kingdom
Education
Local education authorities