Commenting on the government’s announcement that as part of schools reform, all schools will have to join an academy trust, Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:

“In the current version of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, it is clearly stated that the government will no longer seek to force academisation on schools. Today, it is reported that as part of the new Schools White Paper, schools will eventually have to join or form an academy trust. Now we have two sets of government proposals that clearly contradict each other. After a year of leaks and drip-fed announcements, this appears to be a deliberate attempt to launch an academisation announcement without any discussion with those delivering on the frontline.

“This suggested direction of travel – towards further academisation – is a betrayal of local authority schools and those who work in them. It has been proposed without any debate, prior warning or discussion with teachers and their unions. This is not in the spirit of collaboration we were promised from this government.

“Teachers will be bitterly disappointed in this high handed approach. These new proposals reek of the influence of lobbying from over-paid bosses in the academy sector while teachers’ voices continue to be ignored.”