Academy status to become the norm for schools

Michael Gove, education secretary has recently warned that coasting state schools will be forced into becoming academies unless they improve. Under new plans schools will be given three chances to improve, or face sanctions, in what he calls a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy.  Michael Gove insists that it would not be just the ‘worst performers’ who would be targeted but also those schools persistently graded ‘satisfactory’.

 Half of the 3,262 secondary schools in England are academies or awaiting approval and academy status is to become the norm for schools.  Michael Gove said there was now ‘no turning back’ from the wholesale removal of state schools from local authority control, which he sees as central to raising standards.

(The Times)