Academies programme to be expanded
Headteachers of schools applying for academy status have visited Number 10 today as the government announced the opening up of the route to academy status
The PM and Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that every school will now be able to become an academy by allowing existing schools that are strong performers to work in partnership with weaker schools.
Alongside outstanding schools, all schools that are ranked good with outstanding features by Ofsted will automatically be eligible for academy status.
All other schools - primary or secondary - that wish to enjoy academy freedoms will also be eligible, providing they work in partnership with a high-performing school that will help drive improvement.
From January, special schools will also have the opportunity to become academies.
The PM said:
Improving education is central to our reform agenda and we are committed to giving Governors, head teachers and teachers more control over how they run their schools. We know they are best placed to decide how to give their pupils the best possible education and that is why we are encouraging more schools to become academies.
Many more schools will now be able to become academies and I am pleased they will be able to enjoy the additional freedoms, responsibility and empowerment that comes with academy status.
Find out more about academy schools from the Department for Education