Council leader Sue Bates reading the damning Ofsted report

Poor relations between senior officers and schools, marked by inadequate leadership, confusion, uncertainty and a lack of trust, underpin a highly critical report of Swindon as an education authority, by government education inspectors Ofsted, in conjunction with the Audit Commission, released on 14 September.

As a result, senior officers remain in post, with support from staff seconded from Hampshire, but councillor Chris Eley, cabinet member for education has resigned.

Despite the fact that two thirds of Swindon school are assessed by Ofsted as good or very good, in stark, savage statements, the report rips through the pretence that Swindon has run education well since it took over responsibility on becoming a unitary authority in 1997. 'The high ambitions and sense of optimism' at the time is marked by the failure 'to establish the transparent and effective decision-making structures that would enable them to translate high ambitions into reality.

'Difficult decisions have had to be taken. The reasons for arriving at them have not always been clear to schools. This, together with the frequent failure to use funding to best effect, has engendered a climate of mistrust. Schools do not believe that consultation influences decision making. Their trust in elected members has been damaged, perhaps more than is entirely warranted, by the belief that members interfere too much and that officers lack the ability to protect the interests of education.'

In relation to education, particularly schools, the report goes on to state that 'the council has not been well served by its senior officers.' 'Strategic management and planning are poor or very poor in most areas.' 'Plans, notably for school places, asset management, special educational needs, behaviour, the recruitment and retention of teachers and information and communication technology attempt to comply with national requirements but they are often over-bureaucratic and impracticable.' 'The plans do not provide schools with a coherent way forward.'

The report says the LEA does not effectively support school improvement; indeed this is impeded by engaging schools in lengthy consultation...thereby obscuring the essential accountabilities. Strategy is not communicated effectively and in key areas such as school places, special needs and provision of behaviour support, Swindon is performing unsatisfactorily.

'All in all the partnership with schools is far from secure.' This results in high levels of confusion, suspicion and mistrust which consumes headteacher's energies and deflects them from their essential task of raising standards in schools.

However, some services and individuals are well regarded, but their effect is diluted by the negative performance in other areas. Functions discharged well include early years education, financial support services, the literacy strategy, support to school governors, support to raise attainment of children in public care.

The council has until 22 December to produce an action plan in response to the 46 recommendations in the report, which satisfies the Department for Education and Skills. If not, it could lose its education function.

Council leader Sue Bates said that the report had been accepted in full by the council and that members, officers and headteachers were committed to working together to rebuild the education service. "The council must not hide from the issues identified; we have not got it right, we're sorry."

Whilst recognising the structural and organisational failures, she pointed out that Swindon education receives £6.5 million less than other comparable authorities and this has profound and negative effects on the delivery of the service.

Peter Wells, chair of the Swindon Association of Secondary Heads, said the report contents, though shocking and deeply distressing, was not a surprise. "It reflects our understanding and belief that there have been failures at every level of the local authority ever since the inception of the new LEA in 1997."

Primary, secondary and special school headteachers have agreed to work with Swindon to salvage a solution on condition that:

1. political leaders work together in the interests of the children and schools;

2. education be the highest priority for Swindon Council;

3. officers must be empowered by elected members to act and make changes, and that the LEA co-operates fully with any external provider appointed by the DfES;

4. there is full and public recognition of the serious under-funding of schools and there is a significant injection of resources in the next financial year to dramatically narrow the funding gap of £6.5 million, and that it be sustained;

5. internal improvements be identified and opportunities to use external providers be explored; the criteria for decision making being improving quality and raising the achievement of children and young people in the town.

Mr Wells added, "the head-teachers in Swindon are united in the belief that given the resources, the political commitment and the existing professionalism of our teachers, we can achieve a real improvement in the quality of education in the town."

Andrew Nye, chair of the Swindon Association of Primary Heads, characterised Swindon Council as having a macho culture, describing it as 'unreconstructed town hall management more appropriate to a time when it last ran education in 1973.' "It has been proud of having a low council tax and fond of reminding people of central government deficiencies, whilst not always spending all the available money, and mis-managing what they have spent.

"Headteachers have not been listened to in the past; as a result of Ofsted we have given them a very hard time and we believe there is a commitment to change. Schools have been doing well in spite of Swindon Council; together we can build a good education system. If not, Swindon will no longer be an education authority."

He added that it is inconceivable that Swindon should become a city before it sorts its education provision out.

The full report can be downloaded in pdf format at www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspect/index.htm