Government backs down from academisation policy

The Government u-turned on its controversial policy to turn all of England’s schools into academies on Friday afternoon.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan confirmed the climbdown in a bid to keep Tory rebels onside.

A number of Conservative members had voiced concerns that top-performing schools did not necessarily need to convert to academies.

The threat of mass industrial action by head teachers had also hung over the policy in recent days.

Morgan’s plans, if implemented, would have seen all schools convert to academy status by 2022.

“This is about being a listening government, and I would consider myself to be a listening Secretary of State,” she told the BBC.

“We absolutely support those strong local authorities where schools are good and outstanding - they can make the choice to convert.”

Under revised plans schools will be given the choice to convert to academies, although those seen to be struggling or on the brink of failure could be forced to convert as is currently the case.

It was the second climbdown in three days, after the Government earlier in the week announced its decision to let in child migrants from Europe.