Data analytics has become an integral part of the audit process. And where a few years ago it was an area where we were exploring and creating tactical solutions to problems, today the NAO, like many organisations, has developed a strong capability and is making significant progress towards the widespread adoption of data analytics across […]
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the NAO’s role has been to provide Parliament and the public with evidence-based reports on how public money has been used to tackle the crisis. So far we have published 12 reports on different elements of the pandemic response, including for example the test and trace programme; the procurement of […]
Last updated – 28 May 2020 Introduction to the topic This online publication provides results of a survey we conducted with public sector authorities (authorities) and which forms part of the evidence base of the NAO’s report on Managing PFI assets and services as contracts end. This report provides information on how public authorities manage […]
Last updated – 01 February 2021 About this tool Childhood obesity is a worsening problem which successive governments have attempted to address. The childhood obesity data visualisation is an exploratory tool. It should enable users to identify avenues for local exploration, including potentially similar local areas to explore over time. This interactive data visualisation supports the National Audit Office report on Childhood Obesity which was published in September 2020. The data we present […]
UK Government says it is on track to meet target to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020. Local authorities’ ability to secure suitable school places and houses a risk to success. NAO estimate programme will cost £1.12bn by 2020.
This report assesses whether DFID’s 2018 Strategic Vision for Gender Equality is well placed to secure value for money.
Last updated – 29 July 2020 Introduction to the topic Evidence has shown that high-quality early education and childcare can support children’s development and improve their outcomes. The Department for Education funds three entitlements to free early education and childcare in England: By funding the entitlements, the Department for Education aims to support children’s development […]
I last posted to this blog in late April as the country was in the teeth of the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining how we were maintaining our operations and adjusting our work programme in the light of the government response to the virus. Now, in late July, most of the UK is gradually emerging from lockdown […]
The Department has increased funding for new school places, but there are indications of real strain, with 256,000 new places still needed by 2014/15.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, outlines lessons from NAO reports into the government’s handling of COVID-19 in a keynote speech at the Houses of Parliament.
While the impact of the Pupil Premium will take time to become clear, it has the potential to bring about a significant improvement in outcomes. However, the Department for Education and schools have more to do.
Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his audit opinions on the National College for Teaching and Leadership’s (NCTL) 2016-17 Accounts due to a limitation in the scope of his audit of the regularity of the NCTL’s grant expenditure.
11 January 2018
On 15 January 2018, Carillion declared insolvency and the Official Receiver, an employee of the Insolvency Service, started to liquidate its assets and contracts. This report focuses on the role of the UK government in preparing for and managing the liquidation of Carillion.
Two National Audit Office (NAO) reports assessing the condition of school buildings in England and DfE sustainability ambitions.
Last updated – 13 January 2017 Notes 1) The breakdown of the local population in each Local Authority is based on the following: a. For the gender and ethnicity comparisons, the breakdown is based on 10-14 year olds residing in the local authority at the time of the 2011 Census. Published by the Office for […]
Our interactive data visualisation gives you a greater insight into the challenges faced by local authorities.
This study assesses how effectively the Department for Education is supporting education recovery in schools following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial pressures are growing on local authority maintained schools and the capacity of local authorities to support financial management in schools is itself under pressure. The Department for Education needs a system for alerting it to problems requiring intervention.
Government efforts to improve the quality and take-up of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills have yielded some positive results but there remains an urgent need for departments to set out a shared view of what they are trying to achieve and a co-ordinated plan for achieving it.
The government needs to do more to demonstrate how new arrangements for training new teachers are improving the quality of teaching in classrooms.