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Education Leeds set for axe in shake-up
An organisation that has helped run Leeds's schools for the past decade faces the chop in a radical shake-up of children's services in the city.
Although it has won praise for its achievements, Education Leeds – which has an annual budget of 60m and employs about 1,150 staff – will be abolished in March next year under a plan expected to be approved by councillors.
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Its staff will switch to the council and become part of a new directorate being established to help improve children's services across the city.
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A new children's services director, expected to be appointed later this year, will head the new directorate which will also have two deputy directors – one responsible for education and learning and the other for children's social care issues, including the council's child protection work which independent inspectors last year branded as "inadequate."
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Council bosses say the proposed reorganisation is not in direct response to the inspection findings, although they are confident it will help improve services to the city's 180,000 young people aged 19
and below.
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Education Leeds is a company, owned by the council, that provides a range of support services to city schools. It has its own chief executive and board of directors.
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It has been operational since April 2001 and was established under the direction of the Government following a damning report in 1999 by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) on the poor performance of the council's former Department of Education.
A report to be discussed by the council's Executive Board next Wednesday acknowledges the good work done by Education Leeds but adds: "It is fair to say the continuing operation of a company arrangement during the development of the children's services agenda has posed some challenges in regard to clarity of leadership and accountability."
The council's chief executive Paul Rogerson said: "In the current climate it is clear that we need to harness all of the resources that are available to us and ensure that they are used consistently to the best possible effect.
"Education Leeds has done a tremendous job in supporting improvement in our schools and raising standards, and we want to ensure that such work continues."
Education Leeds chief executive Chris Edwards said: "Our priority will continue to be children and young people, and their families and communities here in Leeds, and building on the excellent achievements of everyone in education in the city over the last decade.
"I know that colleagues in Education Leeds and in all our schools will continue to focus on this, and respond positively to the new arrangements, if agreed by executive board."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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