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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Government climbdown over forced academies plan in England | Government climbdown over forced academies plan in England |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Plans to force all of England's schools to become academies are being abandoned in a government climbdown. | Plans to force all of England's schools to become academies are being abandoned in a government climbdown. |
| Education Secretary Nicky Morgan hopes the concessions will meet the demands of Tory rebels opposed to compelling high-performing schools to convert. | Education Secretary Nicky Morgan hopes the concessions will meet the demands of Tory rebels opposed to compelling high-performing schools to convert. |
| This was about the government listening, she said, adding ministers understood top schools should retain the choice on whether to convert. | This was about the government listening, she said, adding ministers understood top schools should retain the choice on whether to convert. |
| The move comes days after threats of industrial action by head teachers. | The move comes days after threats of industrial action by head teachers. |
| Academies are independently run - but state-funded - schools, overseen by a not-for-profit business, known as an academy trust. They are often part of a chain. | Academies are independently run - but state-funded - schools, overseen by a not-for-profit business, known as an academy trust. They are often part of a chain. |
| The controversial plans to require all schools to convert to academy status, or have plans to do so, by 2022 were announced in the Budget, but details followed in a white paper. | |
| 'Lift standards' | 'Lift standards' |
| It was not long before opposition to the idea was heard from teachers and head teachers, education experts and MPs and councillors - both Conservative and opposition. | It was not long before opposition to the idea was heard from teachers and head teachers, education experts and MPs and councillors - both Conservative and opposition. |
| Mrs Morgan told the BBC in an interview: "This is about being a listening government and I would consider myself to be a listening secretary of state. | Mrs Morgan told the BBC in an interview: "This is about being a listening government and I would consider myself to be a listening secretary of state. |
| "Better to have reforms than have none at all. | "Better to have reforms than have none at all. |
| "We absolutely support those strong local authorities where schools are good and outstanding - they can make the choice to convert. | "We absolutely support those strong local authorities where schools are good and outstanding - they can make the choice to convert. |
| "I hope that they will, because we are convinced that becoming academies does lift standards but they can do the right thing for them and I think that reflects the concerns and the conversations that we have had." | "I hope that they will, because we are convinced that becoming academies does lift standards but they can do the right thing for them and I think that reflects the concerns and the conversations that we have had." |
| Conservatives have been voicing opposition to the plans in recent weeks, particularly because all schools - even highly performing ones - were to be forced into the new arrangements. | Conservatives have been voicing opposition to the plans in recent weeks, particularly because all schools - even highly performing ones - were to be forced into the new arrangements. |
| Innovation | Innovation |
| Melinda Tilley, an Oxfordshire county councillor, complained of "diktats from above" and expressed concerns about small village schools closing. | Melinda Tilley, an Oxfordshire county councillor, complained of "diktats from above" and expressed concerns about small village schools closing. |
| Labour had argued that the academies programme was already hitting problems, with a number of large-scale trusts being sanctioned for failing to improve results fast enough. | Labour had argued that the academies programme was already hitting problems, with a number of large-scale trusts being sanctioned for failing to improve results fast enough. |
| Shadow Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: "It is frankly a humiliating climbdown for David Cameron and his education secretary, who just weeks ago were insisting they would plough on with the policy regardless." | |
| However, the government said it would push forward with compelling academy conversions in two areas: | |
| •Where it is clear that the local authority can no longer viably support its remaining schools because too many schools have already become academies. | •Where it is clear that the local authority can no longer viably support its remaining schools because too many schools have already become academies. |
| •Where the local education authority consistently fails to meet a minimum performance threshold across its schools. | •Where the local education authority consistently fails to meet a minimum performance threshold across its schools. |
| The government also announced a package of measures to protect small rural schools including extra financial support and a requirement that any closure would have to be agreed by the local authority and the regional schools commissioner. | |
| Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers said: "We are pleased the government has listened to the profession. | |
| "We stand ready to engage in further discussions about how the government can meet its vision in co-operation with the education sector. This move gives us hope that such dialogue can now be constructive." | |
| Ministers had argued that the new landscape would provide a high level of autonomy to schools and help drive up standards through greater innovation and competition in the system. | Ministers had argued that the new landscape would provide a high level of autonomy to schools and help drive up standards through greater innovation and competition in the system. |
| Currently all schools can choose to convert to academy status, but those deemed to be struggling or failing to improve sufficiently can be forced to convert. That will remain the case under these new plans. | Currently all schools can choose to convert to academy status, but those deemed to be struggling or failing to improve sufficiently can be forced to convert. That will remain the case under these new plans. |
| Are you a parent or teacher? What is your reaction to the announcement? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | |
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