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Local education authorities await shake-up decision Local education authorities await shake-up decision
(about 3 hours later)
The 22 education services in Wales are bracing themselves for a decision on a report calling for up to a third of them to be cut. The 22 education services in Wales are awaiting a decision on a report calling for up to a third of them to be cut.
The Welsh government will decide on the recommendation by Robert Hill, who was an adviser to former Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Welsh government will give its response to recommendations by Robert Hill, who was an adviser to former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He says "new slim-line elected local authorities" could run the service. He said "new slim-line elected local authorities" could run the service.
First Minister Carwyn Jones told the BBC's Wales Report programme in July he backed the idea of a cut.First Minister Carwyn Jones told the BBC's Wales Report programme in July he backed the idea of a cut.
"It's difficult to put an absolute figure but we're probably talking about the early teens I suspect in terms of numbers," he said."It's difficult to put an absolute figure but we're probably talking about the early teens I suspect in terms of numbers," he said.
Schools inspectorate Estyn says council education staff are spread too thinly and cannot offer specialist help.Schools inspectorate Estyn says council education staff are spread too thinly and cannot offer specialist help.
Nearly a quarter of education services in Wales either are or have been placed in special measures - and deemed not up to scratch - by inspectors.Nearly a quarter of education services in Wales either are or have been placed in special measures - and deemed not up to scratch - by inspectors.
The report by Mr Hill says "the fact that there are so many small local authorities is a major contributory factor".The report by Mr Hill says "the fact that there are so many small local authorities is a major contributory factor".
The review states: "Despite this there has been a reluctance by local authorities to consider joint appointments of directors of education services and/or merging services.The review states: "Despite this there has been a reluctance by local authorities to consider joint appointments of directors of education services and/or merging services.
'Too variable''Too variable'
"The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has itself recognised that 'the system is underperforming and that is unacceptable and unsustainable'," the report says."The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has itself recognised that 'the system is underperforming and that is unacceptable and unsustainable'," the report says.
But the review also warns that the performance of four educational consortia already working across local authority boundaries was "too variable".But the review also warns that the performance of four educational consortia already working across local authority boundaries was "too variable".
Mr Hill's report says the organisations' leadership arrangements "are not working properly", partly because "the wrong people have been recruited into the role, and in part there is confusion about what the job is about".Mr Hill's report says the organisations' leadership arrangements "are not working properly", partly because "the wrong people have been recruited into the role, and in part there is confusion about what the job is about".
The review says it would be a "distraction" to reorganise local government in an attempt to improve school standards.The review says it would be a "distraction" to reorganise local government in an attempt to improve school standards.
"In the medium term a complete reorganisation of local authority education functions and boundaries is required, as part of the more general review of the governance and delivery arrangements of public services in Wales, in order to realise this strategy."In the medium term a complete reorganisation of local authority education functions and boundaries is required, as part of the more general review of the governance and delivery arrangements of public services in Wales, in order to realise this strategy.
"The focus must be on bringing clarity to the existing system, consolidating the number of education services and ensuring that all the consortia are operating as effectively as possible as quickly as possible. There is real urgency on this issue.""The focus must be on bringing clarity to the existing system, consolidating the number of education services and ensuring that all the consortia are operating as effectively as possible as quickly as possible. There is real urgency on this issue."
During the three month consultation period since the report, the National Association of Headteachers and National Union of Teachers in Wales have worked with Welsh ministers on measures in the report they could support During the three month consultation period since the report, the National Association of Headteachers and National Union of Teachers in Wales have worked with Welsh ministers on measures in the report they could support.