This morning at our Schools Revolution conference, Michael Gove came under sustained attack from academies architect Lord Adonis and Neil O’Brien from Policy Exchange, who pointed to a slowing-down in the number of primary sponsored academies being set up. O’Brien pointed out that the majority – around 80% – of academies set up under Gove are actually failing schools converting to academy status rather than new schools with a sponsor. Adonis told the audience that Gove’s success on academies was illusory’ because of the decline in the number of sponsored academies.
But I hear that Gove is going to directly address these criticisms in his speech this afternoon. I understand that the Education Secretary is going to announce that there are 220 academies either already open or that will open in the next few months as academies, and that he aims to do more in 2012/13.
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