Sheffield Labour Councillors statement:

“We are against the forced academisation of King Edward’s. Labour have strong concerns about the forced academisation, and removal of local authority oversight, of any school in Sheffield.

“Academisation should never be seen as the only solution to adequately address issues highlighted in an Ofsted report—rather, the answer is greater funding and an enhanced role for local authorities to support our schools.

“Unfortunately, once the Department of Education starts an academisation process, our Council has no power to overturn it. We need a government that will listen to our community’s needs, commits to local authority maintained schools, and gives them the support needed to thrive.

“A Labour government would amend the Schools Bill – to ban the forced academisation of schools, to ensure all schools follow the national curriculum, and to give councils powers over admissions to academies”.