THE Government has now made a U-turn on the decision to ‘force’ all schools to become academies.

However schools not rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ will have no choice but to move from council maintained to academy status it seems.

With the new standard assessment tests (SATs) described by some as ‘tough new exams’ that are ‘inappropriately complex’, will results go down?

If this happens and schools begin to be described as ‘failing’ could they then be ‘forced’ into becoming academies?

The fear is that academy chains remove accountability and oversight – transferring ‘public wealth’ into ‘private hands’.

What is more, this agenda seems to be about de-skilling and de-unionising the workforce.

SEAN CREANEY AND CLLR JOSH BOOTH Warrington