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School minister hints at rapid expansion of academies

24/08/2008

Schools minister Lord Adonis has said the government hopes to exceed its target for the establishment of 400 academies.

The semi-independent schools which receive funding from business and social groups were a key plank of Tony Blair's educational reforms and the announcement could signal a significant increase in the number of academies in the future.

The schools minister said he wanted parents to be "pushy" when it came to the quality of education their children were receiving.

Lord Adonis added that results at academies and parents' hope for higher education standards meant that a strong expansion of the programme would be likely.

Speaking about the number of academies planned to be built across the country, he said: "We will have no difficulty moving beyond 400. We will make a political decision in due course on where we go beyond 400.

"On the basis of the results and the demand, the only issue is how far. We have 100 opening in 2010. There will be very strong pressure from parents and local authorities to maintain that rate," he added.