Surrey may turn all its secondary schools into academies

None of the schools applied for academy status when Gove announced the opportunity in May, which would see institutions remain publicly funded but become independent of local authority control.

"We have made no decisions or adopted any formal policy position in response to the government's academy programme," said Peter Martin, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for children and learning.

"We are at a very early stage in the development of our vision for the county's education," he added. "Our overriding concern is to provide the best possible solutions for Surrey's children and this is just one of many proposals."

Gove is the MP for Surrey Heath, meaning the schools involved are in his constituency, but he will not be involved in discussions on the matter.

In September, the Department for Education announced 142 schools had taken up the offer to become academies since Gove’s announcement.