THE decision to force every school in England to become an academy is not in the interests of children or their parents.

It will mean parents will have no say in the running of their child’s school or the quality of the education it provides.

The majority of primary schools in Gloucestershire have chosen to remain working with the local authority and not to become academies.

Where is the democracy in forcing the majority of primary schools to become academies against their will?

Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted’s chief inspector of schools, has been clear that standards in primary schools have improved massively in the past few years while standards in secondary schools still need to improve in many areas.

Yet only 18 per cent of England’s primary schools are academies and more than 65 per cent of secondary schools are academies.

Only this week, Ofsted published a report which showed that some of the largest Multi Academy Trusts in the country are performing as poorly as the worst performing local authorities.

The education select committee, now chaired by Stroud MP Neil Carmichael, looked at this issue and found no evidence that academies improve educational attainment.

The evidence is clear, the Department for Education is already unable to control its academies and free schools budget, with costs rising without any improvement in education standards.

This is an ideological experiment with our children’s education.

Lesley Williams – county councillor for Stonehouse (Lab) Steve Lydon – county councillor for Dursley (Lab) Brian Oosthuysen – county councillor for Rodborough (Lab)