Academies

Government plans to force 400 primary schools to become academies have met with widespread concern.

Under the proposals, the schools will be taken out of local authority control, with prime minister David Cameron announcing that he has made £10 million available to find them private sponsors.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT teachers’ union, said there was no evidence to show that academy status in primary schools will bring any educational benefits.

“Despite this the coalition government is pressing ahead regardless, removing schools from their local authority and handing them over to unelected sponsors,” she said.