The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for the creation of a single local body responsible for setting and maintaining standards in schools.

It argues that at present, the quality and efficacy of school accountability is somewhat lacking, compounded by "confusing structures" and endless bureaucracy.

The LGA advises that the UK's next government should establish what it calls "education trusts", which would streamline current processes and boost excellence in schools.

Every parent would have an "easily identifiable" single point of contact, which would be managed by local councils.

This would represent a significant shift away from Whitehall accountability, which has previously conceded that it does not have the capacity and local knowledge to do a thorough job.

"Every child deserves a good education at a local school and establishing education trusts will empower councils to ensure this happens across their local area," said councillor David Simmonds, chairman of the LGA's Children and Young People Board.

"The current two-tier system of accountability is confusing for mums and dads to navigate and with different organisations responsible for different elements of education; there are too many possibilities for issues raised by mums and dads to slip through the net."

Education trusts, he continued, would get rid of red tape and allow parents to feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can, at any point, turn to specialists.

Mr Simmonds added that the trusts would also do away with the "tick box culture of Ofsted inspections" because they would help cultivate a culture of peer support and reviews that would boost standards in schools.

"Councils will be in a position to intervene should there be a problem but otherwise, through mutual support, we see no reason why there cannot be a shift away fromOfsted inspections to peer support and enabling the profession to deliver for children and mums and dads," he concluded.