25th May 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
The government has backed down on plans to force all schools to become academies, much to the relief of schools and parents. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced that while the government would still like all schools to become academies, they will not force schools to convert. The climb down comes after loud protests both from schools and parents, and also from Tory rebels opposed to forcing high performing schools to convert. It is understood that schools retaining reasonable standards will not have to convert under the new plans.
Just weeks ago the prime minister said that they would push on with plans to convert all schools, but has since backed down after sustained concern from Tory rebels and head teachers who threatened industrial action over the plans. The original requirement was that all schools must have converted or put in place plans to do so by 2022. Nicky Morgan has since said that the government is listening to the criticism, and understands that schools who are currently performing well may not feel that this is the right time to implement change. However, the government have maintained that schools in areas where they cannot be supported by the local council will still have to become academies, as will schools that fail to meet a minimum performance standard.
Labour has called the climb down “humiliating” but has said that they are relieved that the government will not force through the controversial plans. They also pointed out that schools that have already become academies are not achieving the expected results, highlighting that a number of large-scale academies trusts have been sanctioned for not achieving the required results. Local councils have welcome the u-turn, highlighting their fears for small village schools which may have had to close under the plans due to lack of financial support. The government has now promised to look into measures to protect rural schools and work with local authorities.