Over 140 schools to become academies

September 02 2010

Education secretary Michael Gove has announced that 142 schools will convert to academy status this year.

Of these, 32 will open this week, with the remaining schools converting at a later stage.

"This government believes that teachers and head teachers, not politicians and bureaucrats, should control schools and have more power over how they are run. That's why we are spreading academy freedoms," Mr Gove said.

He claimed that converting to academy status will give headteachers more power over how they run their schools.

Teachers will also be rewarded better and children will be provided with the specialist teaching they need, Mr Gove added.

According to the Department for Education, seven primary schools are set to become academies this year.

However, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said the lack of schools applying for academy status is "rather a damp squib".

The union said it is concerned that some schools may not have carried out consultation on the issue of converting.

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