PLANS to convert every school in Hampshire into an academy rather than remain under local authority control could cost jobs and services, education bosses have warned.

During his budget speech chancellor George Osborne pledged to “set schools free” by pushing through plans to make every school an academy, or at least be in the process of doing so by 2020.

It means that local councils would cease to have any involvement in the running of schools, unless head teachers and governors chose to “buy into” the services they currently offer.

Head of education at Hampshire Peter Edgar warned that despite being a life-long Conservative the move could lead to the country’s education system “imploding”.

He said: “What on earth are we doing so wrong that we need to be abolished? I am a lifelong Conservative but this statement of policy could lead to the country’s education system imploding.

“I do not understand it, particularly as there is no evidence whatsoever that the conversion of schools to academies is improving standards.”

Currently 486 schools are local authority maintained in Hampshire (excluding Southampton and Portsmouth) and 47 academies.

Kings’ School in Winchester is currently a local authority maintained school and head teacher Matthew Leeming believes the move to become an academy won’t be beneficial.

Mr Leeming said: “We have been very happy as a local authority maintained school – we enjoy great support from Hampshire County Council and do not feel that academy status will offer us any advantages. We are sad to see the role of local authorities undermined, because we think that they give the whole school system democratic accountability.

“Our local authority also provides a large number of support services to schools at very competitive rates; many academies choose to buy back in to these services. We hope that many of the advantages of local co-operation between schools will survive these new changes and we will be working closely with the other schools in the city and with Hampshire County Council to adapt ourselves to the new environment.”

Maggi Ferncombe, UNISON regional secretary for the South East said the move would not necessarily lead to higher standards.

“This is nothing more than flawed Tory party ideology, which will see all schools taken out of the control of democratically elected local authorities.

“Forcing 15,000 schools out of local authority control is neither guaranteed to improve teaching and learning standards, nor ensure better financial management.”

l What do you think?

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