ABSTRACT
Of all the myths under consideration, the idea that local authorities control schools is by far the simplest, and by far the most repeated. It is an accusation frequently levelled by those who want to eliminate the role of local authorities entirely in education and replace them with diverse providers. This chapter provides five reasons why local authorities do not control maintained schools. First is that maintained schools have control over their budgets. Secondly, local authorities do not tell schools what and how to teach. Thirdly, local authorities cannot prevent free schools being established where there is no need. Next is that local authorities cannot close an academy or free school due to falling demand and finally local authorities give their schools a great deal of freedom. It is such a detailed knowledge of the local scene, building a sense of relationship between different institutions and helping them to learn that makes the local authority dimension so important.
