CONSULTATION on the future delivery of education services in Wales will close in just 10 days time.

In January this year the then Welsh education minister Leighton Andrews AM announced the appointment of former Tony Blair advisor Robert Hill, to undertake the review on the future delivery of education services in Wales.

The Argus reported in June how the number of local authority education services in Wales could be slashed by a third in the next 12 months, from 22 to 15, if suggestions put to the education minister are put into action.

If they do not merge voluntarily they could be forced by ministerial intervention, according to the report by Mr Hill, who recommended 85 possible options to improve accountability, school improvement functions, school leadership and teaching in Wales.

These include leading 'practitioner' schools helping weaker schools and a national approved list drawn up of schools equipped to provide classroom and whole school support.

Leadership development boards at regional and national level; increasing the number of federations of schools; and funding incentives for high performing schools to help weaker ones were also suggested.

Introducing annual balanced scorecards for every primary and secondary schools were listed as possible ways to improve accountability.

Submit your comments by September 13, by emailing educationservicereview@wales.gsi.gov.uk or write to the Review of Education Services in Wales Secretariat Team, School Management and Effectiveness Division, Department for Education and Skills, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.