NLT policy

Number of academies doubles under coalition government

6 Jan 2011

Children and Young People Now has reported on Department for Education figures showing that there are currently 407 academies open, more than double the 203 that were open in May 2010.

Following the general election  Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, had made academies one of the department's top priorities. The figures also show that a further 254 schools have applied for academy status.

Education secretary Michael Gove says:

"Schools are taking up our offer to become academies because they recognise the huge benefits of being an academy — more autonomy, more power to teachers and an opportunity to thrive, free from interference from government."

But Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the proportion of schools that have already converted to or expressed interest in academy status is still low.

She is also concerned about the lack of detail surrounding long-term regulation of academies. She says:

"What we need to see for the benefit of all our children’s future is a democratically accountable education system operating within the local authority, not some patchwork unaccountable provision."

Read the full story at Children and Young People Now

Tags: Children, England, Reading Champions, Reading Connects, Schools & teaching, Talk for Writing, Words for Work, Young People

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