The Academies Bill was passed by MPs earlier this week allowing less than a week for the detail of the legislation to be debated.
But despite Gove’s claims last month that more than 1,100 schools had applied for academy status, it has been revealed that the total so far is a fraction of this number.
The 153 applications that have been received contain a range of secondary and primary schools.
Speaking on Radio 4 today, Gove dismissed claims that the number of applications amounted to a failure. He said the government wanted to give schools freedoms, but the "timetable for exercising those freedoms is for them to decide".
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
