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Thu 31 May 2012
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No rush to become academies, says Gove
Mon 02 Aug 2010
Schools that are considering applying for academy status have been told there is no rush to submit their application.
The government is offering schools in England the chance to gain freedom from local authority control and enjoy greater autonomy on areas such as teachers' pay and conditions and the curriculum.
So far, 153 schools that have already been rated as outstanding by school watchdog Ofsted have applied to become an academy.
Critics of the scheme including the Labour Party have argued that this shows only a very small number of schools want to gain academy status.
However, education secretary Michael Gove said the government is not setting a timetable on when schools can submit their application.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's The World at One, he added that the coalition views the Academies Bill as "permissive legislation".
Andrea Squires, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "The steps to be undertaken by schools wishing to convert require time and commitment from governors and the senior management team.
"It was always a big ask for those schools seeking to be in the first wave to be expected to do this work mostly over the summer holidays.
"Only the most dedicated and enthusiastic schools will convert on 1st September, but we expect more to look seriously at the proposals once the new term starts.
"By then also, full guidance will have been issued by the department, which will help schools to make informed decisions about the way forward."
Last week, 317 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while 225 opposed it, thereby giving the coalition a majority of 92.
