Academy interest from 99 schools in region

A list published by the Government last night showed a total of 99 primary and secondary schools wanted to become academies as part of the coalition Government's plans to hand more power over schools to local communities.

The 99 are part of more than 1,500 schools nationally who have so far registered an interest.

The surge follows Education Secretary Michael Gove's announcement that all schools rated as outstanding by Ofsted can now be fast-tracked to academy status – with the new Government having acted to open up the programme to primary and special schools as well.

Of the schools in Yorkshire interested in becoming academies, a total of 51 are rated as "outstanding" by inspection body Ofsted. Included among this number are Manor Church of England in York, The McAuley Catholic School in Doncaster, Meanwood Church of England Primary in Leeds and Beverley Grammar School.

A further 44 schools rated as not outstanding registered interest in attaining academy status, including Thornton Grammar School in Bradford, Cleve Primary School in Hull, Tadcaster Grammar School and St Bernard's Catholic High School in Rotherham.

Academies are funded directly from Government and set their own admissions as well as timetable and employment arrangements.

Schools Minister Lord Hill said: "This is a genuinely permissive policy, there is no pressure for any school to convert by September, and they can do so at any time, when they feel they are ready. We want schools to decide what's best for them, not politicians or bureaucrats.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said, however, the level of interest expressed by Britain's schools was very low.

"The expressions of interest that Mr Gove proudly proclaims represent a tiny percentage of schools," she said.

"The vast majority are extremely wary of cutting themselves free from their local community of schools and from the in-depth support and advice provided by their local authority. It is this majority that simply do not recognise the picture of autocracy and oppression which Mr Gove paints of local authorities."

Among the expressions of interest were those from both catholic and grammar schools in Yorkshire, despite advice to the contrary from bodies representing both kinds of schools.

Last week, the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales warned there was little precise detail on funding for academies and advised "great caution" to Catholic schools.

And the National Grammar Schools Association (NGSA) has issued an "urgent statement", advising governors and headteachers to be "extremely cautious" and that there may be "covert dangers" in becoming an academy.

The Government took the step of publishing the list after calls from union leaders that failing to publish the names would leave parents and staff in the dark and follows numerous applications under the Freedom of Information Act for the list to be made public.

However, there are still more than 100 schools nationwide who have expressed an interest in becoming an academy but whose names have not been released as not all schools have been contacted regarding having their details published. The Department for Education (DfE) said the names would be released as soon as possible.

The full list can be found at www.education.gov.uk/academies.