Academies: Birmingham
Education

Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2012, Official Report, columns 587-8W, on academies: primary education, with which schools in Birmingham officials in his Department have engaged directly; what the results of that engagement have been in respect of each school; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss (South West Norfolk, Conservative)

holding answer 17 July 2012

All schools, including special schools and pupil referral units, are able to become academies. Departmental officials engage with schools to find the best route for them to achieve academy status. For schools that wish to convert, engagement takes place when the Department receives an expression of interest or application from the school to convert. For schools below the floor standard or in Ofsted “special measures” and “notice to improve” categories, officials in the Department, working closely with the local authority when possible, will make contact with the school to discuss options for a sponsored solution to drive up performance. As of 1 September there are 41 primary schools in Birmingham in the pipeline to become academies, and 15 are open as academies. When an academy solution is agreed for a primary school, the name of the school will be added to the Department's published lists of academies in development at:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b00208569/open-academies

We do not name schools where we are in the early stages of exploring sponsored academy options. We believe this has the potential to disrupt schools concerned.