Morgan agrees ‘important issues’ have been raised over academisation plans

In an interview with BBC Radio 5, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan agreed that critics had raised ‘important issues’ regarding government plans to make every school in England an academy.

Morgan outlined that many critics were concerned about what would happen to rural primary schools under the plan. MPs have also called for more information to be produced detailing exactly what can be expected during the academy conversion process.

However, Morgan maintained she was confident that the proposals, recommended in the White Paper, would follow through.

The news comes as conservative members from within Morgan’s own party highlighted doubts about the government’s plans, claiming there was lacking choice for most schools and that rural schools could be compromised.

During the discussion, Morgan said: “What I do know is that there is widespread support on Conservative benches - and elsewhere I might add - for schools becoming academies.

“Now this is a White Paper, it's perfectly legitimate for Members of Parliament to ask questions, to clarify how our proposals are going to work for schools in their area, how it ties in with other reforms we're making, like changes to the national funding formula.

"Rightly we will, of course, continue discussions about specific elements of the White Paper, but yes, I'm absolutely confident there is very, very broad support for our policy of schools becoming academies."