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Academy invitation goes out to all schools | Academy invitation goes out to all schools |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Ministers are inviting all schools in England to become academies, as long as they team up with a strong school. | Ministers are inviting all schools in England to become academies, as long as they team up with a strong school. |
Good schools with outstanding features will also be automatically approved, as outstanding schools are now. | Good schools with outstanding features will also be automatically approved, as outstanding schools are now. |
Teaching unions said the scheme had become confused, as schools had already been invited to apply, with no mention of a requirement to form partnerships. | Teaching unions said the scheme had become confused, as schools had already been invited to apply, with no mention of a requirement to form partnerships. |
The government says more academies, which operate outside local authority control, will raise standards. | The government says more academies, which operate outside local authority control, will raise standards. |
The coalition government has been pushing the roll-out of the programme, which gives schools more freedom over their budgets and curriculum. | The coalition government has been pushing the roll-out of the programme, which gives schools more freedom over their budgets and curriculum. |
But critics say that an increase in the number of academies will weaken co-ordination at local authority level and lead to a fragmented education system. | But critics say that an increase in the number of academies will weaken co-ordination at local authority level and lead to a fragmented education system. |
Academies gain access to funds which would previously have been pooled at local authority level for area-wide services such as special needs provision. | Academies gain access to funds which would previously have been pooled at local authority level for area-wide services such as special needs provision. |
"Many more schools will now be able to become academies and I am pleased they will be able to enjoy the additional freedoms, responsibility and empowerment that comes with academy status," said Mr Gove. | "Many more schools will now be able to become academies and I am pleased they will be able to enjoy the additional freedoms, responsibility and empowerment that comes with academy status," said Mr Gove. |
"We know that the best way of improving schools is by getting the professionals who have already done a brilliant job to spread their wings," Mr Gove said, referring to the plan to encourage schools to form partnerships. | "We know that the best way of improving schools is by getting the professionals who have already done a brilliant job to spread their wings," Mr Gove said, referring to the plan to encourage schools to form partnerships. |
Later, Prime Mister David Cameron said he was "fantastically excited" about the academy programme, and that the government had put "rocket boosters" under it. | |
But shadow education secretary Andy Burnham accused the government of "dismantling" state education. | |
He said the government's schools reforms were "a free market experiment brought in at break-neck speed with scant supporting evidence". | |
'Bewildering' | |
Wednesday's announcement follows Education Secretary Michael Gove's warning to local authorities that he was ready to use his powers to force struggling schools to become academies. | Wednesday's announcement follows Education Secretary Michael Gove's warning to local authorities that he was ready to use his powers to force struggling schools to become academies. |
The Academies Act, passed in July, made it possible for all schools to apply to become academies. | The Academies Act, passed in July, made it possible for all schools to apply to become academies. |
In May, Mr Gove wrote to all schools inviting them to register their interest - although the Department for Education said all schools had been "invited to apply". | In May, Mr Gove wrote to all schools inviting them to register their interest - although the Department for Education said all schools had been "invited to apply". |
However, on Wednesday it said schools other than those rated "outstanding" by the schools watchdog Ofsted have not actually been able to apply until now. | However, on Wednesday it said schools other than those rated "outstanding" by the schools watchdog Ofsted have not actually been able to apply until now. |
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the academies project was "quite obviously in total disarray". | Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the academies project was "quite obviously in total disarray". |
"The various announcements and mixed messages coming from Michael Gove about who can and cannot apply for academy status is both bewildering and of great concern," she said. | "The various announcements and mixed messages coming from Michael Gove about who can and cannot apply for academy status is both bewildering and of great concern," she said. |
Ms Blower also said that schools could work together to share best practice and resources without having to become academies. | Ms Blower also said that schools could work together to share best practice and resources without having to become academies. |
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, said "only a handful" of schools had become academies, and most of those were doing so because they would gain financially. | Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, said "only a handful" of schools had become academies, and most of those were doing so because they would gain financially. |
She warned schools against converting at a time of change in the the schools funding system, and reports that a new government body may be created to oversee a shake-up. | She warned schools against converting at a time of change in the the schools funding system, and reports that a new government body may be created to oversee a shake-up. |
"It would be foolish to take the profound and irreversible decision to sever any link with a local authority and put their schools at the mercy of a remote, national, democratically unaccountable funding quango," she said. | "It would be foolish to take the profound and irreversible decision to sever any link with a local authority and put their schools at the mercy of a remote, national, democratically unaccountable funding quango," she said. |
Fragmentation concerns | Fragmentation concerns |
However, the Association of School and College Leaders said that opening the programme to all schools would "help to create a more level playing field". | However, the Association of School and College Leaders said that opening the programme to all schools would "help to create a more level playing field". |
"When academy status was only available to a few schools, there was the potential to create a fragmented education service," said general secretary Brian Lightman. | "When academy status was only available to a few schools, there was the potential to create a fragmented education service," said general secretary Brian Lightman. |
Critics have said the programme so far has been likely to primarily benefit schools in privileged areas, where outstanding schools tend to be located. | Critics have said the programme so far has been likely to primarily benefit schools in privileged areas, where outstanding schools tend to be located. |
For the first time special schools will also have the opportunity to become academies. | For the first time special schools will also have the opportunity to become academies. |
Officials say this will give them more flexibility in how they buy in support for pupils' special needs. | Officials say this will give them more flexibility in how they buy in support for pupils' special needs. |
There are about 21,000 schools in England and currently 347 of them are academies. | There are about 21,000 schools in England and currently 347 of them are academies. |
Eighty of these are the new-style academies, created since the coalition came to power and altered the scheme, which under Labour had targeted support towards deprived areas. | Eighty of these are the new-style academies, created since the coalition came to power and altered the scheme, which under Labour had targeted support towards deprived areas. |
Since July some 224 applications for academy status have been received by the Department for Education. | Since July some 224 applications for academy status have been received by the Department for Education. |