Michael Gove has written to Andy Burnham, the Shadow Education Secretary, challenging him to set out where he stands on the Coalition's expansion of the academies programme. It comes as the number of applications from schools to convert to Academy status has gone past the one thousand mark,
In the letter, he challenges Burnham to pledge not to remove academy status from new academies, bring academies back under local and national bureaucratic control, water down academy freedoms, repeal or amend the Academies Act or close the conversion process to new applicants.
In the letter, Michael Gove stated:
"The enthusiasm shown by heads, teachers and parents for the academies programme has been remarkable to witness. Schools in each region of the country are flocking to take advantage of the greater freedoms academy status brings. Surveys indicate overwhelming public support for our reforms, with one poll showing two-to-one support for the expansion of academies.
"Yet I was disappointed to read comments in your speech to the NASUWT last month which attacked our reforms, implicitly criticising schools for taking the decision to become academies. Thousands of teachers, parents and pupils up and down the country will be worried that their new academy could be under threat in the event that you ever become Education Secretary."
Read Michael Gove's letter in the viewer below.