Councillors should make better use of their oversight role over local education services, as schools become ever more autonomous - a local government think-tank has reported.

A paper to be issued later today in Harrogate by the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) argues that monitoring the changing educational landscape, with the majority of schools now independent of local authority control, means locally-elected politicians must develop a clear focus about their reviews.

Despite the rapid increase in the numbers of academies and free schools, councils are still responsible for promoting academic excellence, protecting vulnerable children, school place planning amid other responsibilities.

Entitled ‘Back to school: ways for scrutiny to influence local education and support school leaders to improve results,' the report includes seven case studies which made clear the need for closer links and communication between school leaders, councillors and governors – as well as greater training.

The paper also contains tips and advice for councillors on establishing relationships with schools, reviewing performance, approaches to school improvement and resource allocation,

Jessica Crowe, executive director for the CfPS said:  ‘Councillors have a role in education, regardless of the form of governance of local schools.

‘This applies both in exercising their powers to scrutinise the services directly provided by the council and in engaging with all local schools.

‘Scrutiny may use its influence and credibility to act on behalf of the community, engage stakeholders and work with decision-makers and providers to seek to improve education and to hold decision-makers and providers to account.'