More than 1,000 schools apply to become academies

More than 1,000 schools in England have applied to become academies since 2010, it has been revealed.

Figures from the Department for Education show that so far 647 of these have been approved, with 384 having already converted.

In total, a third of secondary schools are now academies, with schools converting at a rate of two per day.

Commenting on the figures, education secretary Michael Gove said this "represents a fundamental shift in power from the government towards teachers".

"Schools want the freedom to decide what is best for their pupils. They want to be free to innovate in the classroom, inspiring pupils to learn," he said.

More than 650 academies have now been opened, including those under the previous Labour government.

The Times Educational Supplement reported last week that up to 70 per cent of Church of England schools could convert to academy status in the next five years.

Posted by Dolcie Thacker
 

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