The Education Committee is today announcing an inquiry into certain aspects of the academies programme.  Written submissions are invited addressing the following points:

The effectiveness of academisation in narrowing the gap for disadvantaged children, and what further steps should be taken within the academies system to bring about a transformational impact on student outcomes;

• The process for approving, compelling and establishing academies and free schools, including working with sponsors;

• The role of the Secretary of State in intervening in and supporting failing academies, and how this role will work as the programme expands;

• The functions and responsibilities in relation to academies and free schools of local authorities and other organisations operating between the Secretary of State and individual schools; what these functions and responsibilities should be; and what gaps there are in support for schools at this level;

• What role academy chains play or should play in the new school landscape; how accountable they are; and what issues they raise with regard to governance arrangements;

• The appropriateness of academy status for primary schools and what special factors apply;  and what evidence there is that academy status can bring value for money either for individual primary schools or for the system as a whole;

• What alternatives to sponsored academy status should be offered to failing primary schools.