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Local Education Authority (LEA)

LEAs have three distinct but overlapping roles.

Core role: to guarantee the infrastructure of a universal school system. This means ensuring that every child has a school place, that children with special needs receive appropriate education and support, that changes in the school population are planned for, that children entitled to free school travel receive it, and that large school building projects can be managed and funded.

Leadership role: LEAs have a unique legitimacy. They are part of an elected structure. It gives them the authority to lead the local education community, to set a vision for education, and to bring different partners together to achieve change and improvement

School improvement role: LEAs need to offer support to heads, governors and teachers and also monitor and challenge schools' performance.

Comprehensive information about LEAs is available on the Standards Site.
http://www.standards.dfes.go v.uk/lea/