The bill was passed by 331 votes to 225. An amendment, put forward by Lib Dem MP John Pugh, calling for parents to be consulted before a decision on academy status is taken was defeated.
However, the amendment was backed by five other Lib Dem MPs, Annette Brooke, Andrew George, Mike Hancock, John Leech and David Ward.
Labour MPs Ed Balls and Vernon Coaker had written to Lib Dem MPs earlier this week in support of John Pugh’s amendment as well as another calling for councils to have a greater say on a school’s transition to academy status.
Their joint letter said: "We believe that local communities should have a voice and this bill denies it to them."
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