Government U-turns on plans to force schools to become academies

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said that after listening to feedback from MPs and the education sector, the government has decided to "change path".

Plans to force all schools to become academies were unveiled in March in the government's Educational Excellence Everywhere whitepaper but have proved hugely controversial, prompting strong opposition.

Morgan said the government still wants all schools to become academies, but those rated as "good" or "outstanding" by Ofsted will not be compelled.

Morgan said: “I am today reaffirming our determination to see all schools to become academies. However having listened to the feedback from parliamentary colleagues and the education sector we will now change the path to reaching that goal.

“By focusing our efforts on those schools most at risk of failing young people, and encouraging good and outstanding schools to seize the opportunities of conversion, we will ensure the continued growth of the academy programme, empowering frontline heads and school leads and transforming even more children’s education.”

Plans to force all schools to become academies received widespread criticism from education unions and local authorities.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said he welcomes government's “constructive approach”.

“We are pleased the government has listened to the profession,” he said.

“We stand ready to engage in further discussions about how the government can meet its vision in co-operation with the education sector. This move gives us hope that such dialogue can now be constructive.

“We recognise that the government remains strongly in favour of academies and we ourselves have nothing against voluntary conversion to academy status. We can have a much better conversation about academies in this new climate.”

Lucy Powell, Labour’s shadow education secretary, described the U-turn as a “humiliating climbdown”.
 
“There remain enormous challenges facing out schools under Tories, and their fixation with structures has distracted school leaders and created panic in the schools system, at the expense of raising standards,” she said.
 
“Ministers must urgently tackle the serious problems they have created in education, including schools budgets falling in real terms for the first time in twenty years, chronic shortages of teachers, not enough good school places, and chaos and confusion in the exams system.”

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said there are other policies in the education white paper she is concerned about.

“Although the immediate threat of forced academisation has been lifted, there is still much in the education white paper which should worry anyone concerned about the education of England's children and young people.

"There is potential for political shenanigans against local authorities if the government takes powers to force all schools in 'failing' local authorities to convert to academy status. And we remain deeply concerned that this proposal will put more power into the hands of unelected, unaccountable, regional schools commissioners."

Roy Perry, chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “We are delighted that the government is listening to our strong opposition to forced academisation, which has been echoed by MPs, teachers and parents and backed up by evidence.
 
“Our recent analysis of the grades achieved by all schools under the more rigorous Ofsted inspection framework proved that 81 per cent of council-maintained schools are rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, compared to 73 per cent of academies and 79 per cent of free schools. It is right that these schools should not be forced down the academy route unless they make that decision themselves.
 
“Recent Ofsted figures have also shown that ‘inadequate’ council-maintained schools are more likely to improve if they stay with their local authority, rather than being forced to convert to an academy.

“These figures showed that 98 per cent of council-maintained schools improved in their first Ofsted inspection after being rated ‘inadequate’ compared to 88 per cent of academies.
 
“This clearly demonstrates that councils are education improvement partners, rather than barriers to delivering the high quality education that our children deserve. Councils stand ready to help all schools, regardless of their Ofsted rating or status.”