Local education authorities in England: Difference between revisions

Local councils in England and Wales that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction

Local education authorities (LEAs) were defined in England as the local councils responsible for education within their jurisdictions. The term was introduced by the Education Act 1902 which transferred education powers from school boards to existing local councils. There have been periodic changes to local education authorities, such as the existence of the ad hoc Inner London Education Authority from 1965 to 1990. Since 2010, the term no longer appears in legislation, but is often used to distinguish local authorities with education functions from those without them.

History[edit]

Creation[edit]

The term was introduced by the Education Act 1902 (2 Edw.7, c. 42). The legislation designated each local authority; either county council and county borough council; would set up a committee known as a local education authority (LEA).^[1] The councils took over the powers and responsibilities of the school boards and technical instruction committees in their area.

Municipal boroughs with a population of 10,000 and urban districts with a population of 20,000 were to be local education authorities in their areas for elementary education only.

In 1904 the London County Council became a local education authority, with the abolition of the London School Board. The metropolitan boroughs within London were not education authorities, although they were given the power to decide on the site for new schools in their areas, and provided the majority of members on boards of management.

The LEAs’ role was further expanded with the introduction of school meals in 1906 and medical inspection in 1907.^[1]

Reform[edit]

The Education Act 1944 changed the requirements for delegation of functions from county councils to districts and boroughs. The population requirement for excepted districts became 60,000 or 7,000 pupils registered in elementary schools.^[2] The Local Government Act 1958 permitted any county district to apply for excepted district status.

In 1965 the London County Council, Middlesex County Council and the councils of the county boroughs of Croydon, East Ham and West Ham were replaced by the Greater London Council. The twenty outer London boroughs became local education authorities, while a new Inner London Education Authority, consisting of the members of the GLC elected for the twelve inner London boroughs covering the former County of London was created.^[3]

In 1974 local government outside London was completely reorganised. In the new metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan boroughs became LEAs. In the non-metropolitan counties the county councils were the education authorities.^[4]

In 1986, with the abolition of the Greater London Council, the Inner London Education Authority became directly elected. This however only lasted until 1990, when the twelve inner London boroughs assumed responsibility for education.

In 1989, under the Education Reform Act 1988, the LEAs lost responsibility for higher education, with all polytechnics and colleges of higher education becoming independent corporations.

A further wave of local government reorganisation during the 1990s led…