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| All 'failing' schools to be academies under new Bill | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Up to 1,000 schools in England, including all those rated inadequate by Ofsted, will be turned into academies, under plans being published later. | |
| The Education and Adoption Bill will also scrap the requirement for academy sponsors to consult locally on whether they should take over schools. | The Education and Adoption Bill will also scrap the requirement for academy sponsors to consult locally on whether they should take over schools. |
| The aim is to "sweep away bureaucratic and legal loopholes", said Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. | The aim is to "sweep away bureaucratic and legal loopholes", said Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. |
| Labour said the "divisive" bill missed the challenges faced by schools. | Labour said the "divisive" bill missed the challenges faced by schools. |
| Pupils 'languishing' | Pupils 'languishing' |
| The government says campaigners have too often been able to delay or overrule the process by which schools deemed failing by Ofsted become academies. | The government says campaigners have too often been able to delay or overrule the process by which schools deemed failing by Ofsted become academies. |
| Ministers believe debates surrounding some attempts to impose academy status result in too many pupils "languishing in underperforming schools". | Ministers believe debates surrounding some attempts to impose academy status result in too many pupils "languishing in underperforming schools". |
| The bill sets out measures to turn 100% of failing schools into academies, double the current rate. | The bill sets out measures to turn 100% of failing schools into academies, double the current rate. |
| Academies are state-funded schools that are independently run by academy trusts or chains - charities that run a string of state schools. | Academies are state-funded schools that are independently run by academy trusts or chains - charities that run a string of state schools. |
| Sponsored academies are schools that have been "taken over" because they were not deemed to be doing well enough under local education authority influence. | Sponsored academies are schools that have been "taken over" because they were not deemed to be doing well enough under local education authority influence. |
| Although the schools are still managed in the same way, by a head teacher and the governing body, they are supported by the chain, which may provide a fresh impetus, direction and influence. | Although the schools are still managed in the same way, by a head teacher and the governing body, they are supported by the chain, which may provide a fresh impetus, direction and influence. |
| This sidestepping of the local authority is seen by some as a form of privatisation, as the trusts are not directly accountable to the local electorate. | This sidestepping of the local authority is seen by some as a form of privatisation, as the trusts are not directly accountable to the local electorate. |
| Trusts and chains are not allowed to make a profit from running schools, which are inspected by Ofsted in the usual way. | Trusts and chains are not allowed to make a profit from running schools, which are inspected by Ofsted in the usual way. |
| Currently, 235 schools are deemed to be failing, while 1,100 became sponsored academies over the course of the last Parliament. | Currently, 235 schools are deemed to be failing, while 1,100 became sponsored academies over the course of the last Parliament. |
| The government estimates up to 1,000 more schools will become academies by 2020, if the bill is passed. | The government estimates up to 1,000 more schools will become academies by 2020, if the bill is passed. |
| The measures include: | The measures include: |
| The bill will allow the best education experts to intervene "from the first day we spot failure", said Mrs Morgan. | The bill will allow the best education experts to intervene "from the first day we spot failure", said Mrs Morgan. |
| "It will sweep away the bureaucratic and legal loopholes previously exploited by those who put ideological objections above the best interests of children," she said. | "It will sweep away the bureaucratic and legal loopholes previously exploited by those who put ideological objections above the best interests of children," she said. |
| Mrs Morgan said hundreds of schools, often in disadvantaged areas, were already being turned around, "thanks to the help of strong academy sponsors". | Mrs Morgan said hundreds of schools, often in disadvantaged areas, were already being turned around, "thanks to the help of strong academy sponsors". |
| "This bill will allow them to do their job faster and more effectively, ensuring that thousands more pupils, from across the country, get the world class education they deserve." | "This bill will allow them to do their job faster and more effectively, ensuring that thousands more pupils, from across the country, get the world class education they deserve." |
| 'Depressing' | 'Depressing' |
| She told the BBC it was currently taking an average of 13 months to turn a school into an academy, and "a day spent in a failing school is a day too long when a child's education is at stake". | She told the BBC it was currently taking an average of 13 months to turn a school into an academy, and "a day spent in a failing school is a day too long when a child's education is at stake". |
| Asked how many existing academies were deemed to be failing, Mrs Morgan did not give a number, but said there were "obviously academies that are not rated good or outstanding". | Asked how many existing academies were deemed to be failing, Mrs Morgan did not give a number, but said there were "obviously academies that are not rated good or outstanding". |
| "We already have the powers to intervene in the academies which are not making the required standard today," she added. | "We already have the powers to intervene in the academies which are not making the required standard today," she added. |
| Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said Labour had founded the academies programme and continued to support new leadership for failing schools, "be they academies or maintained schools". | Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said Labour had founded the academies programme and continued to support new leadership for failing schools, "be they academies or maintained schools". |
| "But these measures do not meet the challenges we face in education, such as preventing educational inequality setting in during the early years and ensuring high-quality teachers are attracted into poorly performing areas. | "But these measures do not meet the challenges we face in education, such as preventing educational inequality setting in during the early years and ensuring high-quality teachers are attracted into poorly performing areas. |
| "It is very depressing to see the government's partisan and divisive education policy continuing into this parliament." | "It is very depressing to see the government's partisan and divisive education policy continuing into this parliament." |
| Academy chain leaders welcomed the plan. | Academy chain leaders welcomed the plan. |
| Steve Lancashire, chief executive of REAch2, which from September will sponsor 51 schools across England, called it a "very positive step forward for families across the country. It will mean no child is left behind. | Steve Lancashire, chief executive of REAch2, which from September will sponsor 51 schools across England, called it a "very positive step forward for families across the country. It will mean no child is left behind. |
| "We welcome the opportunity that the bill will bring to engage with more schools, helping ensure that children get the first-class education they deserve." | "We welcome the opportunity that the bill will bring to engage with more schools, helping ensure that children get the first-class education they deserve." |
| 'No magic wand' | 'No magic wand' |
| But Brian Lightman, leader of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned that taking over schools was not always a straightforward solution. | But Brian Lightman, leader of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned that taking over schools was not always a straightforward solution. |
| Rapid and effective intervention was needed when a school was rated inadequate, said Mr Lightman. "In many cases academisation may be the best solution. However, in itself it is not a magic wand." | Rapid and effective intervention was needed when a school was rated inadequate, said Mr Lightman. "In many cases academisation may be the best solution. However, in itself it is not a magic wand." |
| National Association of Head Teachers leader Russell Hobby said the government had once again resorted to "sanctions and threats when our education system desperately needs investment and support". | National Association of Head Teachers leader Russell Hobby said the government had once again resorted to "sanctions and threats when our education system desperately needs investment and support". |
| "Parents who have campaigned against the opaque and centralised process of academisation will be dismayed to see themselves dismissed as obstacles to be eliminated." | "Parents who have campaigned against the opaque and centralised process of academisation will be dismayed to see themselves dismissed as obstacles to be eliminated." |
| Dr Mary Bousted, leader of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said there was no clear evidence academies improved standards. | Dr Mary Bousted, leader of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said there was no clear evidence academies improved standards. |
| National Union of Teachers' leader Christine Blower called the pledge to convert up to 1,000 schools "as irrational as it is impractical". | National Union of Teachers' leader Christine Blower called the pledge to convert up to 1,000 schools "as irrational as it is impractical". |
| "Head teachers are already in short supply so the promise to sack more of them will simply exacerbate the problem," she said. | "Head teachers are already in short supply so the promise to sack more of them will simply exacerbate the problem," she said. |