View source for Local education authorities in England and Wales

{{short description|Local councils in England and Wales that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
'''Local education authorities''' ('''LEAs''') were defined in [[England]] and [[Wales]] 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 in England and Wales|school boards]] to existing local councils.

There have been periodic changes to the types of councils defined as local education authorities. Initially, they were the councils of counties and county boroughs. From 1974 the local education authorities were the county councils in non-metropolitan areas and the district councils in metropolitan areas. In Greater London, the ''ad hoc'' [[Inner London Education Authority]] existed from 1965 to 1990. Outer London borough councils have been LEAs since 1965 and inner London borough councils since 1990. Unitary authorities created since 1995 have all been LEAs. 

The functions of LEAs have varied over time as council responsibilities for local education have changed. On 1 April 2009, their powers were transferred to directors of children's services.<ref name="ONS Geography Guide">{{cite web |url=https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/a-beginners-guide-to-uk-geography-2023/about |title=A Beginners Guide to UK Geography (2023) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=24 August 2023 |website=Open Geography Portal |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=9 December 2023 |quote=Prior to 1 April 2009, LEAs were the bodies responsible for the local administration of state-sector education services in England and Wales. In those parts of England that still had counties, there was one LEA for each county - for example Cumbria LEA and Devon LEA. Otherwise there was one LEA in each unitary authority (UA), metropolitan district or London borough. The Isles of Scilly also had their own LEA. The statutory duties of LEAs are now undertaken by the director of children's services, whose responsibilities also include Children's Social Services (CSS). The Children Act 2004 required every London borough, metropolitan district, top-tier local authority (county) or UA in England to appoint a director of children's services. Additionally, the Education and Inspections Act 2006 includes a clause that allows for the future renaming of LEAs as local authorities in all legislation, removing the anomaly of one local authority being known as an LEA and a children's services authority.}}</ref> The [[Children Act 2004]] required every London borough, metropolitan district, top-tier local authority (county) or UA in England to appoint a director of children's services.<ref name="ONS Geography Guide" /> The [[Education and Inspections Act 2006]] includes a clause that allows for the future renaming of LEAs as local authorities in all legislation, removing the anomaly of one local authority being known as an LEA and a children's services authority.<ref name="ONS Geography Guide" />

==History==
===Creation===
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|county borough council]]; would set up a committee known as a ''local education authority'' (LEA).<ref name=bryne>Bryne, T., ''Local Government in Britain'', (1994)</ref> The councils took over the powers and responsibilities of the [[School boards in England and Wales|school boards]] and [[technical instruction committee]]s in their area. 

[[Municipal borough]]s with a population of 10,000 and [[urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]]s 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 of the County of London|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.<ref name=bryne/>

===Reform===
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.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Municipal Year Book and Encyclopaedia of Local Government Administration |date=1947 |publisher=Municipal Journal}}</ref> 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 borough]]s 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.<ref>Saint, A., ''Politics and the people of London: the London County Council (1889–1965)'', (1989)</ref>

In 1974 local government outside London was completely reorganised. In the new metropolitan counties of England and Wales, [[metropolitan borough]]s became LEAs. In the non-metropolitan counties the [[county council]]s were the education authorities.<ref>Redcliffe-Maud & Wood, B., ''English Local Government Reformed'', (1974)</ref>

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 borough]]s assumed responsibility for education.

In 1989, under the [[Education Reform Act 1988]], the LEAs lost responsibility for higher education, with all [[polytechnic (United Kingdom)|polytechnics]] and colleges of higher education becoming independent corporations.

A further wave of local government reorganisation during the 1990s led to the formation of [[unitary authority|unitary authorities]] in parts of England and throughout Wales, which became local education authorities.<ref>Jones, B. et al., ''Politics UK'', (2004)</ref>

===Redefinition===
The [[Children Act 2004]] defined each local education authority as additionally a children's services authority, with responsibility for both functions held by the director of children's services.<ref name="2004 Act">Children Act 2004 c. 31</ref>

=== Ending ===

==== England ====
The ''Local Education Authorities and Children's Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010'' removed all reference to local education authorities and children's services authorities from existing legislation, replacing them with the term 'local authority'. A local authority for the purposes of the [[Education Act 1996]] and the Children Act 2004 was defined as the county council, metropolitan district council, unitary authority, London borough council and the Common Council of the City of London. Schedule 1 of the order inserted in the Education Act 1996 a list of 'education functions' for the relevant local authorities.<ref name="2010 order">{{cite web |title=The Local Education Authorities and Children's Services Authorities (Integration of Functions) Order 2010 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1158/pdfs/uksi_20101158_en.pdf |access-date=2 July 2023}}</ref> Despite the term becoming obsolete, 'local education authority' continues to be used to distinguish local authorities with education functions from those without them.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Education Authority (LEA) |url=https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/4-386-3828 |website=Practical Law |access-date=2 July 2023}}</ref>

==== Wales ====
In Wales the councils of the counties and county boroughs are responsible for education. Since 5 May 2010, the terms local education authority and children's services authority have been repealed and replaced by the single term 'local authority' in both primary and secondary legislation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Open letter regarding the term changes to 'Local Education Authority' and 'Children's Services Authority' |url=http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/publications/guidance/childrensservices/?lang=en |website=wales.gov.uk}}</ref>

==Functions==
Local education authorities had some responsibility for all state schools in their area.
{{Expand list|date=February 2011}}
*They are responsible for distribution and monitoring of funding for the schools
*They are responsible for co-ordination of admissions, including allocation of the number of places available at each school
*They are the direct employers of all staff in [[Community school (England and Wales)|community]] and [[Voluntary controlled|VC]] schools
*They have a responsibility for the educational achievement of looked-after children, i.e. children in their care<ref name="gttl_LAC">{{cite web
|url=http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/8971/1/GTTL_FINAL.pdf
|access-date=19 March 2016
|publisher=Department for Children, Schools and Families
|title=A Guide to the Law for School Governors
|page=67
}}</ref>
*They have attendance and advisory rights in relation to the employment of teachers, and in relation to the dismissal of any staff<ref name="gttl_HR">{{cite web
|url=http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/8971/1/GTTL_FINAL.pdf
|access-date=19 March 2016
|publisher=Department for Children, Schools and Families
|title=A Guide to the Law for School Governors
|page=86
}}</ref>
*They are the owners of school land and premises in community schools.<ref name="gttl_land">{{cite web
|url=http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/8971/1/GTTL_FINAL.pdf
|access-date=19 March 2016
|publisher=Department for Children, Schools and Families
|title=A Guide to the Law for School Governors
|page=79
}}</ref>

Until recently,{{when|date=November 2020}} local education authorities were responsible for the funding of students in [[higher education]] (for example [[undergraduate education|undergraduate courses]] and [[Professional Graduate Certificate in Education|PGCE]]) whose permanent address is in their area, regardless of the place of study. Based on an assessment of individual circumstances they offer grants or access to [[student loan]]s through the [[Student Loans Company]].

===Education functions===
Statutory education functions for local authorities in England are as follows:<ref name="2010 order"/>
* Making of byelaws relating to the employment of children. 
* Payment of injury benefit to or in respect of teachers. 
* Powers and duties relating to careers services 
* Duty to provide information to the Secretary of State. 
* General duty to secure that facilities for education are provided without sex discrimination. 
* Power to use a school bus to carry fare-paying passengers. 
* Duty to prepare and revise lists of rooms in school premises which candidates may use. 
* Duty to require the appropriate officer to give an opinion as to whether a child with a statement is disabled. 
* Education supervision orders.
* Duty to secure that disabled pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage.
* Duty to prepare an accessibility strategy. 
* Duty (as responsible body) to prepare an accessibility plan. 
* Duty relating to the provision of independent advocacy services
* Duties as an "authorised body" relating to qualifications. 
* Duty to arrange assessments relating to learning difficulties. 
* Duty to implement approved proposals relating to sixth forms. 
* Duty to include certain persons on overview and scrutiny committee if it relates to education functions. 
* Powers and duties relating to education of a child in an accommodation centre.
* Powers and duties relating to parenting orders and parenting contracts. 
* Duty to make available to the Secretary of State appropriate accommodation for enabling the Secretary of State to arrange for medical inspections in schools. 

==Relevant local authority==
England has several tiers of local government and the relevant local authority varies. Within [[Greater London]] the 32 [[London borough council]]s and the [[Common Council of the City of London]] are the local authorities responsible for education; in the metropolitan counties it is the 36 [[metropolitan borough|metropolitan borough councils]]; and in the non-metropolitan counties it is the 21 [[county council]]s or, where there is no county council, the councils of the 62 [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authorities]]. The [[Council of the Isles of Scilly]] is an education authority.<ref name="2004 Act"/> There are 153 local education authorities in England.

===List of local authorities responsible for education===
There are currently 153 local education authorities in England. Below they are listed alphabetically by region.<ref>[http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/localauthorities/index.cfm?action=authority Department for Education and Skills] - LA Contact Details</ref>

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
! [[Greater London|London]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council]]
* [[Barnet London Borough Council]]
* [[Bexley London Borough Council]]
* [[Brent London Borough Council]]
* [[Bromley London Borough Council]]
* [[Camden London Borough Council]]
* [[City of London Corporation]]
* [[Croydon London Borough Council]]
* [[Ealing London Borough Council]]
* [[Enfield London Borough Council]]
* [[Greenwich London Borough Council]]
* [[Hackney London Borough Council]]
* [[Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council]]
* [[Haringey London Borough Council]]
* [[Harrow London Borough Council]]
* [[Havering London Borough Council]]
* [[Hillingdon London Borough Council]]
* [[Hounslow London Borough Council]]
* [[Islington London Borough Council]]
* [[Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council]]
* [[Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council]]
* [[Lambeth London Borough Council]]
* [[Lewisham London Borough Council]]
* [[Merton London Borough Council]]
* [[Newham London Borough Council]]
* [[Redbridge London Borough Council]]
* [[Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council]]
* [[Southwark London Borough Council]]
* [[Sutton London Borough Council]]
* [[Tower Hamlets London Borough Council]]
* [[Waltham Forest London Borough Council]]
* [[Wandsworth London Borough Council]]
* [[Westminster City Council]]
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[South West England|South West]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Bath and North East Somerset Council]]
*[[Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council]]
*[[Bristol City Council]]
*[[Cornwall Council]]
*[[Devon County Council]]
*[[Dorset County Council]]
*[[Gloucestershire County Council]]
*[[Council of the Isles of Scilly]]
*[[North Somerset Council]]
*[[Plymouth City Council]]
*[[Somerset Council]]
*[[South Gloucestershire Council]]
*[[Swindon Borough Council]]
*[[Torbay Council]]
*[[Wiltshire Council]]
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[South East England|South East]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Bracknell Forest Borough Council]]
*[[Brighton and Hove City Council]]
*[[Buckinghamshire Council]]
*[[East Sussex County Council]]
*[[Hampshire County Council]]
*[[Isle of Wight Council]]
*[[Kent County Council]]
*[[Medway Council]]
*[[Milton Keynes Borough Council]]
*[[Oxfordshire County Council]]
*[[Portsmouth City Council]]
*[[Reading Borough Council]]
*[[Slough Borough Council]]
*[[Southampton City Council]]
*[[Surrey County Council]]
*[[West Berkshire Council]]
*[[West Sussex County Council]]
*[[Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council]]
*[[Wokingham Borough Council]]
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[East of England|East]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Bedford Borough Council]]
*[[Cambridgeshire County Council]]
*[[Central Bedfordshire Council]]
*[[Essex County Council]]
*[[Hertfordshire County Council]]
*[[Luton Borough Council]]
*[[Norfolk County Council]]
*[[Peterborough City Council]]
*[[Southend-on-Sea Borough Council]]
*[[Suffolk County Council]]
*[[Thurrock Borough Council]]
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Birmingham]] City Council
*[[Coventry City Council]]
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley|Dudley]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Herefordshire Council|County of Herefordshire District Council]]
*[[Sandwell]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Shropshire Council]]
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Solihull|Solihull]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Staffordshire County Council]]
*[[Stoke-on-Trent]] City Council
*[[Telford and Wrekin]] Borough Council
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Walsall|Walsall]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Warwickshire County Council]]
*[[Wolverhampton]] City Council
*[[Worcestershire County Council]]
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[East Midlands]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Derby]] [[Derby City Council|City Council]]
*[[Derbyshire]] [[Derbyshire County Council|County Council]]
*[[Leicester]] [[Leicester City Council|City Council]]
*[[Leicestershire County Council]]
*[[Lincolnshire County Council]]
*[[North Northamptonshire Council]]
*[[Nottingham]] City Council
*[[Nottinghamshire County Council]]
*[[Rutland County Council]]
*[[West Northamptonshire Council]]
{{div col end}}
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Yorkshire and the Humber]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley|Barnsley]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[City of Bradford]] Metropolitan District Council
*[[Calderdale]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster|Doncaster]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[East Riding of Yorkshire Council]]
*[[Hull City Council]]
*[[Kirklees]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Leeds City Council]]
*[[North East Lincolnshire Council]]
*[[North Lincolnshire Council]]
*[[North Yorkshire Council]]
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham|Rotherham]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[City of Sheffield|Sheffield]] City Council
*[[Wakefield Metropolitan District Council]] 
*[[City of York|York]] City Council
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[North West England|North West]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Blackburn with Darwen]] Borough Council
*[[Borough of Blackpool|Blackpool]] Borough Council
*[[Bolton (borough)|Bolton]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Bury (borough)|Bury]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Cheshire East]] Council
*[[Cheshire West and Chester]] Council
*[[Cumberland Council]]
*[[Halton (borough)|Halton]] Borough Council
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley|Knowsley]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Lancashire County Council]]
*[[Liverpool]] City Council
*[[Manchester]] City Council
*[[Oldham (borough)|Oldham]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Rochdale (borough)|Rochdale]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[City of Salford|Salford]] City Council
*[[Metropolitan Borough of Sefton|Sefton]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[St Helens (borough)|St Helens]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Stockport (borough)|Stockport]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Tameside]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Trafford]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Warrington (borough)|Warrington]] Borough Council
*[[Westmorland and Furness Council]]
*[[Wigan Council|Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council]]
*[[Wirral (borough)|Wirral]] Metropolitan Borough Council
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[North East England|North East]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Darlington (borough)|Darlington]] Borough Council
*[[County Durham (district)|Durham County Council]]
*[[Gateshead (borough)|Gateshead]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Hartlepool (borough)|Hartlepool]] Borough Council
*[[Middlesbrough Borough Council]]
*[[North Tyneside]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Northumberland County Council]]
*[[Newcastle upon Tyne]] City Council
*[[Redcar and Cleveland]] Borough Council
*[[South Tyneside]] Metropolitan Borough Council
*[[Stockton-on-Tees (borough)|Stockton-on-Tees]] Borough Council
*[[City of Sunderland|Sunderland]] City Council
{{div col end}}
|-
! [[Wales]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Isle of Anglesey County Council]]
*[[Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council]]
*[[Bridgend County Borough Council]]
*[[Caerphilly County Borough Council]]
*[[Cardiff Council]]
*[[Carmarthenshire County Council]]
*[[Ceredigion County Council]]
*[[Conwy County Borough Council]]
*[[Denbighshire County Council]]
*[[Flintshire County Council]]
*[[Gwynedd Council]]
*[[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council]]
*[[Monmouthshire County Council]]
*[[Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council]]
*[[Newport City Council]]
*[[Pembrokeshire County Council]]
*[[Powys County Council]]
*[[Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council]]
*[[City and County of Swansea council]]
*[[Torfaen County Borough Council]]
*[[Vale of Glamorgan Council]]
*[[Wrexham County Borough Council]]
{{div col end}}
|}

==See also==
*[[Special education]]
*[[Dyslexia support in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041013142537/http://www.dfes.gov.uk/learole/policypaper/ DfES: The Role of the Local Education Authority in School Education]

{{Local government services in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Education in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Local government services in the United Kingdom|Education]]
[[Category:Local education authorities]]