Government backs down on academy plans

It is a victory for teaching unions and parents who have campaigned vigorously against the move, since the plan was announced in the Budget earlier this year.

There has been widespread protest against the plans by teachers and parents with more than 150,000 people signing petitions against the move, and national demonstrations.

A number of Conservative-led councils and some Conservative MPs had also spoken out against the move.

Setting out more details on the next steps for the Education White Paper, education secretary Nicky Morgan said today that the Government had listened to feedback, and that although it remained its intention for all schools to become academies, it would no longer be changing the law for ‘blanket conversion’ for all schools.

However, schools that are underperforming will continue to be required to convert to academy status.

The Government will also introduce new legislation which would trigger conversion of all schools within a local authority area in specific circumstances. This could be when it is no longer viable for a local authority to support schools because most have converted to academies, or when it is a failing to meet performance standards and improve schools.

Explaining why the plans had changed, Ms Morgan said, ‘Since launching our proposals in the education white paper, the Government has listened to feedback from MPs, teachers, school leaders and parents.

‘It is clear from those conversations that the impact academies have in transforming young people’s life chances is widely accepted and that more and more schools are keen to embrace academy status.

‘As a result of these conversations, the Government has decided, while reaffirming our continued determination to see all schools to become academies in the next six years, that it is not necessary to bring legislation to bring about blanket conversion of all schools to achieve this goal.

‘The Government will continue to require underperforming schools to convert to academy status where they can benefit from the support of a strong sponsor.’

She said that 104 directive academy orders had been issued to underperforming schools in the last month since the new legislation came into force.

Ms Morgan also announced that small rural schools would receive extra funding and that no small successful schools would be forced to join a national chain.

Teaching unions were unanimous in welcoming the change.

Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said, ‘This is a huge Government climb-down and is a testament to the campaigning of teachers and parents. This was an unprecedented outcry.

‘This is the third major education U-turn by Government. In a month we have seen baseline scrapped, SPaG Key Stage 1 tests scrapped and now the central plank of the White Paper, forced academies.

‘This is a clear indication that Government policy is in tatters. Nicky Morgan needs to stop and talk to the profession to work out a clear way forward. It is time to end this ideological nonsense for this discredited Government. They need to start adopting the right priorities for education by talking to the profession. They should not take extra powers to force all schools in specified local authorities to become academies. The 8 per cent cuts to budgets that schools are facing need to be reversed. This is a huge concern as it will impact on every school and every child.’

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the ATL, said, ‘It has taken the combined efforts of parents, teachers, school leaders, governors, Conservative councillors, MPs and education unions to get the Government to see sense and to back away from a policy which had no rationale and no merit. ATL members have consistently raised their concerns with their councillors and MPs.’

She added, ‘However, 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.’

Voice general secretary Deborah Lawson said, ‘I am delighted that the Government has listened to the strong arguments against compulsory academisation. This is a surprising but welcome U-turn.

‘Voice opposed the rapid and forced conversion of schools into academies and the loss of local democratic accountability.

‘We always questioned the benefit of becoming an academy for the many good and outstanding local authority schools across the country.

‘We hope that ministers will remain in listening mode when it comes to other aspects of the White Paper that we have concerns about, such as the replacement of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and the roles of local authorities and Regional Schools Commissioners.’

Labour agreed with the U-turn.

Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said, ‘It is welcome news that the Tory Government has finally listened to Labour and the alliance of head teachers, parents and local government who opposed these plans, and dropped the forced academisation of all schools. It is frankly a humiliating climb down for David Cameron and his Education Secretary, who just weeks ago were insisting they would plough on with the policy regardless.’