• Investigation: The schools that slip through the council finance net

    Thousands of council schools have not had their finances independently scrutinised for more than five years – three of which were last audited by their local authority nearly 20 years ago. Schools Week can also reveal that council schools have been breaking rules over tax checks, issuing contracts and unauthorised pay rises for staff. And…

    5.00 Dec. 14th, 2018 | News

  • Councils urged to claw back cash as 'excess' school surpluses top £500m

    Councils are being urged to claw back cash from schools holding “excess” surpluses – as new figures show the total amount stored away by cash-rich schools was nearly £600 million. Department for Education figures published on Thursday show a worsening financial position for council-maintained schools – with more than three in ten secondary schools now…

    7.00 Dec. 8th, 2018 | News

  • Investigation: SEND funding crisis pits parents and schools against councils

    Council bosses say pressure on their SEND budgets leaves them at risk of not being able to deliver core services – which would result in the government imposing emergency spending controls. Dave Hill, executive director of children, families and learning at Surrey County Council, this week told the education select committee that councils have been…

    7.00 Nov. 30th, 2018 | News