# Devolution Plans Need Practical Safeguards, Experts Warn
Andy Burnham's push to devolve more education power to local authorities requires careful attention to implementation gaps that have emerged from past devolution attempts across the UK, according to an expert panel discussing the policy in The Conversation.
The discussion centers on what devolution actually means for schools. Rather than simply transferring control from Westminster to regional bodies, experts stress that successful devolution demands clear accountability structures, adequate funding mechanisms, and protection against widening regional inequalities.
Past devolution efforts in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland offer lessons. Those regions gained greater autonomy over education policy and curriculum design but faced challenges when funding fell short of needs or when wealthy areas gained disproportionate advantages. The panel notes that devolution without equitable resource distribution can deepen the gap between prosperous and struggling regions.
For Burnham's plans, experts identify several critical considerations. First, devolved bodies need genuine control over education budgets, not just policy direction. Second, accountability must remain transparent so parents and teachers understand who makes decisions and why. Third, smaller local authorities may lack the expertise or capacity to manage complex education systems independently, requiring regional collaboration frameworks.
The panel also highlights the risk of policy fragmentation. When multiple regions set different standards and requirements, students face inconsistency, and workforce mobility becomes complicated as teachers encounter varied qualification systems.
Experts emphasize that devolution can improve responsiveness to local needs, allowing regions to tailor education to their economies and communities. However, this benefit only materializes with proper governance design. The panel recommends establishing clear performance metrics, ensuring cross-regional knowledge sharing, and maintaining baseline national standards that protect educational quality nationwide.
Without these safeguards, devolution could create a patchwork system where a student's educational opportunity depends on their postcode rather than their potential.