Detail the Roles and Responsibilities of National and Local Government for Education Policy and Practice

Learning Outcome 6:

Detail the roles and responsibilities of national and local government for education policy and practice.

At the national level the Government sets their policies for how they will seek to develop and deliver, and change the strategic direction of, education in this country. The Government enacts legislation that applies to or effects eduction (for example, the Education Act 2011).

The Department for Education, formed on 12 May 2010, is responsible for education and children's services. It provides clear and authoritative guidance and advice at the national level:

Statutory Guidance: Guidance on powers and duties for local government, schools, and those working in the teaching profession. Some guidance imposes an obligation that must be followed without exception, whilst most guidance is to be followed in the way described unless there is a good reason not to.

Departmental Advice: Examples and specific cases to help recipients to understand complex or wide-ranging statutory guidance, or to advise on other powers, duties and provisions that are not set out in statute but must still be followed (for example, under law).

Supplementary Content: A wide range of information or helpful advice about optional subjects (for example, best practice).

The Teaching Agency (formed 1st April 2012) is a new executive agency of the Department for Education with responsibility for ensuring the supply of high-quality teachers and training and for teacher regulation, the agency delivers policy for teachers and instructors; those working in Early Years; classroom-based school support staff; special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs); educational psychologists and examination officers.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), a new executive agency of the Department for Education, is now responsible for the development and delivery of all statutory assessments from early years to the end of Key Stage 3.

The National College for School Leadership works to develop and inspire great leaders of schools and early years settings so that they can make a positive difference to children’s lives. It provides mechanisms for sharing best practice amongst schools via, for example, identifying: teaching schools, national and local leaders of education, specialist leaders of education, and national leaders of governance.

Local Education Authorities: 150 English local authorities and all authorities in Wales have the strategic lead for education of children and young people. They have a legal duty to ensure that every child fulfils his or her educational potential. The authority must be a champion for the best interests of the pupil and listen to the concerns and interests of parents and carers. It must monitor the performance of maintained schools in its area and ensure that where improvements are necessary, these are carried out effectively. They are responsible for:

distribution and monitoring of funding for the schools co-ordination of admissions, including allocation of the number of places available at each school staff training and development the educational achievement of all children in their care owners of school land and premises for state-funded schools.
Special educational needs promoting community cohesion development of school policies the curriculum behaviour management
Local authorities have to document their plans for the development of government based initiatives, this will be through their local CYPP plan which will outline how children's services will be integrated and how and when improvements will be achieved in the local area.

Many local education authorities will employ specialist advisors for specific areas of the curriculum to ensure these areas are developed in accordance with policies. They may also provide specialist teachers who will deal directly with those students who may have special educational needs such as dyslexia or behavioural needs. These teachers are often allocated to schools to give advice and guidance.

Any changes to educational policies must be communicated quickly and effectively and therefore it is the responsbility of the local authority to train key members of staff or to visit the school and provide training to all staff members e.g. INSET days.