ATL comment on FOI into impact of sponsored academies on underperforming schools

“These figures should leave Nicky Morgan in no doubt that academy conversion is no panacea for failing, or coasting schools. It is a mystery why the Government is hell bent on forcing schools to become academies when they are not the answer and many are condemning children to remain in under-performing schools for longer than if they were still in schools attached to local authorities.

“The Government is failing the children in these schools, and their parents. Rather than spending time and taxpayers’ money on academy conversions, the Government should put its efforts and funding into the things that really do raise school standards - effective continuing professional development for teachers, and eliminating child poverty so that the barriers to learning are lessened.

“The House of Lords should take note of this evidence and reject the Education and Adoption Bill's provisions to turn 'coasting' schools into academies. We also urge the Education Select Committee to question the role and effect of regional school commissioners whose performance is judged on the number of schools they convert to academy status since, on the basis of this evidence, they are doing more harm than good.”