Council maintained Schools continue to outperform academies; new LGA research

SCHOOLS that remain within their Council have continued to outshine those that converted to academies, according to new research commissioned by the Local Government Association.

A new report, analysing Ofsted inspection outcomes by School type, has found 93% of Council maintained Schools were rated outstanding or good as of 31 January 2023, compared to 87% of academies that were graded since they converted.

The LGA, which represents Councils, says this is evidence as to why Councils should be given the powers to open new maintained Schools, and is a reminder of the excellent track record of Councils in School improvement and maintaining educational standards. Councils were last able to open maintained Schools in 2012.

It is also calling for Councils to be given the powers to direct all Schools to admit pupils without a School place. Councils are currently unable to require academies to do so.

The report, by Angel Solutions, also found, since August 2018:-

• 72% of Council maintained Schools retained their outstanding rating, compared to 60% of outstanding academies that received inspections in their current form and did not inherit grades from their former maintained School status.
   

• 40% of academies without grade inheritance fell by at least 1 grade, compared with 28% of maintained.
   

• 57% of academies that were an academy in August 2018 improved to a good or outstanding grade, compared to 73% of maintained Schools from the same starting point.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the LGA's Children and Young People Board, said:- "Our research is a reminder of the superb performance of Council maintained Schools, and yet further evidence of why Councils should be allowed to open their own Schools again. Academisation can be the right choice and a good choice for some Schools, and we fully recognise the positive progress Schools that became academies have made. Councils want to ensure that every child gets the very best education and Schooling in life. That is why it is vital they are given a central role in providing education and that Government recognises Councils as the excellent education partner they are."

New figures reveal 409 cat cruelty reports made to RSPCA in Merseyside in 2022

HEARTBREAKING figures released by the RSPCA as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign have revealed 409 cat cruelty complaints were made in Merseyside, in 2022.

Nationally, in 2022, there were almost 18,000 cat cruelty complaints reported to the RSPCA. Of those reports 1,726 were intentional harm incidents; which is around 5 a day. This is a 25% increase from 2021 when the number was 1,387.

The charity has released the heartbreaking figures as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, in a bid to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse.

It comes during a busy time for the animal welfare charity which sees cruelty peak in the summer with 3 reports made every single minute.

The cost of living crisis is also thought to be a contributing factor to an increase in deliberate harm to animals at a time when the cost of rescuing animals is at an all time high and the RSPCA's vital services are stretched to the limit.

Dr Sam Gaines, head of the RSPCA's companion animal department, said:- "Cats are 1 of the most popular pets in the UK with an estimated 11 million pet cats in UK homes but our figures suggest sadly they are the second most abused pet; after dogs. It is heart breaking to think that 5 cats every day are suffering at the hands of humans; it really is appalling; but sadly the RSPCA knows all too well that this cruelty is carried out on a regular basis. We see hundreds of felines come through our doors every year who have been subjected to unimaginable cruelty; being beaten, burned, thrown around, had bones broken, been shot at, poisoned and drowned. In many cases these pets have been injured deliberately by their owners; the very people who are supposed to love and protect them. But cats are also more vulnerable as they tend to be out and about on their own which can leave them vulnerable to airgun attacks and other forms of cruelty by complete strangers."

Brett Witchalls, chief inspector for Merseyside, said:- "Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is, very sadly, on the rise. While we don't know for certain why there has been an increase, the cost of living crisis and the post Pandemic world we live in has created an animal welfare crisis. Each year, these reports reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months. The cost of living crisis also means the cost of rescuing animals is at an all time high and our vital services are stretched to the limit. Together, we believe we can and will cancel out cruelty to animals by replacing violence with kindness. We are urging people to donate to our Cancel Out Cruelty campaign,every donation will help animals."

It is not known why reports of animal cruelty peak in the summer months although factors like animal abuse being more visible as people are outdoors more, could be 1 factor.

The RSPCA is the only charity rescuing animals and investigating cruelty in England and Wales with a team of frontline rescue officers, specialist vet teams and a network of animal care centres and 140 branches providing rehabilitation to animal victims.

As the only charity in England and Wales investigating cruelty and rescuing animals, the RSPCA needs support to stay out on the frontline:-

• £2 could help to provide a meal for a cat or dog in our care.
   

• £6 could help pay to feed a dog for a day in our care.
   

• £10 could help pay towards bandages for a cat or dog.
   

• £15 could help pay for a cat or dog's clinical exam.
   

• £20 could help pay towards a bird catching kit.
   

• £30 could help pay for a life jacket for an inspector.
   

• £100 could help pay towards water rescue equipment.
   

• £500 could kit out a 4x4 inspector van.

The RSPCA's frontline teams are working hard to rescue animals in need this summer but we can't do it alone; we need your help to Cancel Out Cruelty. To help support the RSPCA, visit:- RSPCA.Org.UK.