TOWN Hall chiefs are planning to slash places at top performing academy schools with new powers handed down by Labour, education leaders have warned.
Ministers are giving local authorities bigger control in setting pupil numbers at free schools and academies as part of sweeping curbs on academy freedoms.
But academy leaders have said this will result in councils cutting places at their good and outstanding institutions just so other schools in the area have enough children.
Gareth Stevens, CEO of Inspiration Trust, says Norfolk County Council wants to halve places at his Charles Darwin Primary despite it being rated outstanding.
He also said places at Stadbroke Primary – rated good by Ofsted – were threatened with being cut in half despite it being oversubscribed and outperforming other local schools.
Mr Stevens said: “The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is writing into law a lot of central control over education – whether that is over uniform, curriculum or working conditions.
“Whilst there are a lot of grey areas which make it difficult to plan, it is clear that there will have to be changes to the fantastic education we provide at our schools to fit the Government’s new rules.
“But the idea that we could have the rug pulled out from under us and the number of places at our high performing school cut is the most worrying thing.
“It will mean fewer places at high performing good or outstanding schools for parents and pupils in Norfolk.”
Labour’s Schools Bill will force academies – run by independent trusts rather than councils – to follow national standards on everything from the curriculum to teacher hiring.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has insisted the changes will instil fairness throughout the sector, while not damaging academies’ independence.
But critics have warned her plans risk throttling the very freedoms that have made many academies successful.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”My kid’s attendance officer was so intrusive when she visited – they’re wrong if they think it’ll get her back to school” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369879122112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Meg Powell-Chandler, director of the New Schools Network, said: “Free schools and academies are providing a great education for thousands of children.
“The Government should let them get on with it.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Through our Plan for Change, this government will drive high and rising school standards for every child so that wherever they live, regardless of their background, families can be confident their children will have access to a good local school so they can achieve and thrive.
“Greater local coordination on admissions is vital, and our bill will place new duties on schools and local authorities to cooperate so that there are enough school places and a safety net so that unplaced and vulnerable children can secure a new school place quickly.”