Posted on Tuesday 30th Aug 2016
Academy budgets should be overseen by local authorities following a series of financial abuses, say council leaders.
Cash earmarked for education in England is too often "disappearing into the back pockets of those in charge", says the Local Government Association.
Current scrutiny is ineffective, leaving the media and whistleblowers to uncover fraud, argues the LGA.
The government says academies and free schools are subject to greater scrutiny than council-run schools.
Council leaders are urging Education Secretary Justine Greening to restore local oversight of all school finances "providing democratic accountability so that parents and communities can be confident their children aren't missing out".
They say the Education Funding Agency, the official body responsible for the financial oversight of academies and free schools, lacks the capacity "to provide the level of scrutiny necessary to ensure value for money and catch out fraudsters".
Latest News
22/10/19Does homework help primary school children or is it unnecessary stress?
Does homework have any purpose for primary school children? We talked to the experts to find out
21/10/19Primary schools give free food to hungry families
The biggest primary school academy trust in England is to give food to parents to prevent "family hunger".
18/10/19Pupils with behavioural issues failing to meet exam benchmark
Just 1.5% with behaviour issues got grade 4s or higher in the subjects, according to data
16/10/19Physical exercise during academic lessons can help boost test scores, study suggests
'Active classes help children learn more effectively,' researchers say
15/10/19Career ambitions 'already limited by age of seven'
By the age of seven, children are already facing limits on their future aspirations in work, according to a report from the OECD international economics think tank.