We can't "force" all schools to become academies: Council leader backs Nicky Morgan's u-turn

Councillor Simon Geraghty has revealed his own unease over the Education Secretary's ditched proposal by saying he felt it went too far.

Last Friday Mrs Morgan backtracked on her proposal and agreed to amend her Government White Paper after a backlash from schools, parents and many Tory councils.

The leadership at County Hall has refused to criticise the move until now, but Mrs Morgan's change of tack has led to Councillor Geraghty revealing his concern.

He was questioned about it during a full council meeting by the opposition Labour Party, which asked if he "agreed with Nicky Morgan's previous view".

He said: "Her view has clearly moved on now, she's progressed her view and I welcome that - I am glad she has done so.

"Academies are an important part of the education landscape.

"I don't want any message to be sent out that I wouldn't encourage them to become academies, if it's right for them, great.

"But I think it's important that all schools are not forced to become academies.

"The Government has clearly listened to views across the political spectrum, to schools, unions and made a sensible compromise."

Labour group leader Councillor Peter McDonald said: "Is he saying he's changed this council's policy?

"Because it's spent a considerable amount of money going around, encouraging schools to become academies in recent years."

Councillor Geraghty insisted: "No, we have not changed our policy."

He said the leadership would still encourage schools to convert if the schools felt it was right for them, adding that he felt Mrs Morgan's change of tack was "imminently sensible".

Mrs Morgan's White Paper will still force some schools to make the conversions, but it can only be triggered automatically in two specific circumstances.

One is if the school's performance continues to trail below certain Government standards, and another is where councils have so few schools under their direct control, they become financially unviable in the hands of a local authority.

Mrs Morgan initially wanted to bring in legislation to take all schools away from councils, requiring all of them to convert to academy status, or have plans to do by 2022.

Bosses at County Hall have agreed that more and more academies can convert in recent years, with the current tally up to 64 and more expected to come.

Yesterday's full council meeting also led to a huge row between Labour and the Conservatives over the current state of the White Paper.

A motion by Labour to go around asking all maintained schools what they thought of it was defeated by 13 votes to 28.