Schools Reform Research Project

Since its election the Coalition Government has been engaged in reforming the education system in England with particular aims around increasing autonomy in schools, transparency in funding decisions, and fairness across all aspects of education.  So far this has included a wider roll-out of the academy programme, the introduction of new Free Schools, and significant reforms to school funding. These changes will have considerable implications for the future role of local government in education.

As part of its work on schools policy, London Councils commissioned social research agency EdComs to conduct a survey of all London’s schools to gain a fuller picture of their experiences working with local authorities and their views on the current education reforms.  The research covers a wide range of topics including, among others, the role of the local authority in education; the impact of academies and free schools; the pupil premium; and school capital funding.

The final report The changing education environment in London – a schools’ perspective was published by London Councils on 12 October 2011 and can be downloaded here.