Consultation Response: Reforming how local authorities' school improvement functions are funded

We set out our concerns regarding the government’s proposal to withdraw the School Improvement Monitoring and Brokering Grant in this consultation response.

We argue that county authorities play a vital role in ensuring high‑quality education through school improvement, particularly for maintained schools in rural and coastal areas that face barriers to joining Multi‑Academy Trusts (MATs).

We highlight that at a time when schools are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, removing this funding risks destabilising school improvement functions and undermining efforts to raise and maintain standards.

Recommendations to government set out in the consultation response include:

• Retain the School Improvement Monitoring and Brokering Grant for longer, delaying or phasing reforms to avoid destabilising the sector.
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• Ensure school improvement functions remain properly funded while many maintained schools - especially in rural counties -cannot yet join MATs.

• Avoid relying solely on de‑delegation, which may not secure sufficient funding from school forums.
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• Recognise that all schools, including Good and Outstanding ones, need ongoing monitoring and challenge to sustain performance.