Education: Head dubs new status 'gimmicky rebranding'

David Hudson, headteacher of Wickersley School, in Rotherham, said he did not expect to join the programme as he would argue it was a distraction away from teaching and learning.

He also claimed it was wrong for the new Government to brand schools which opt out of local authority control as academies as they would be "completely different" to the original model launched ten years ago.

Under new reforms being pushed through by Education Secretary Michael Gove any school which is rated as outstanding is pre-approved to become an academy and run itself independently with funding direct from Government.

When academies were first created they were opened as replacements for struggling schools and were based in new buildings with cash backing from a private sponsor.

Mr Hudson said: "All these new academies would be are grant maintained schools under another name.

"They are completely different from the original academies." He has recorded a video message on his school's website setting out his opposition to the Government's plans. In it he said: "If academies were the solution they are claimed to be then teachers in schools would be clamouring to see them more widespread.

"Like grant maintained schools before them they are peripheral to teaching and learning."

Mr Hudson told the Yorkshire Post that the only reason schools would opt for academy status was if it resulted in more funding. He warned, however, that this would result in schools elsewhere in the system missing out. He believes Wickersley would be about 500,000-a-year better off if it became an academy.

"I got into education to help kids – not just to help Wickersley kids."

Mr Hudson claimed the biggest problem facing the education system was headteachers with "insufficient drive, vision and ambition" for their school and their pupils.