More than 300 academies will have been set up in London within a year as struggling primary schools are taken out of town hall control.
David Cameron announced today that 400 of the weakest primary schools across the country will be turned into academies.
The Prime Minister said that by the end of next year he wants them to be paired with sponsors to turn them into academies as part of the drive to improve education in the poorest performing schools.
Mr Cameron said: “Time and time again we have seen how academies, with their freedom to innovate, inspire and raise standards are fuelling aspirations and helping to spread success.
“So now we want to go further, faster, with 400 more under-performing primary schools paired up with a sponsor and either open or well on their way to becoming an academy by the end of next year.
“It is simply not good enough that some children are left to struggle in failing schools, when they could be given the chance to shine.”
There are around 280 academies in London, and the latest batch will push the figure over 300. There were 203 academies at the last general election, but they were all secondary schools. There are now 2,456 academies in the country, and a further 823 in the pipeline. Of the new academies, 333 were formerly failing primary or secondary schools. Ministers want to spend up to £10 million to develop new sponsor links.
