The Academy Act 2010 and Grammar Schools

[Paul Dodgshun]

A list of outstanding schools that have applied to convert to academy
status this autumn has been published (see attachment). It seems to
contain some twenty or so grammar schools, according to the BBC. The
list includes St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School, Barnet.

The Academies Act 2010 has received the Royal Assent and is now law :-
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/ukpga_20100032_en_1

The Academies Act 2010 seeks to remove the protections of the
selective admission arrangements under 104(4) SSFA 1998 at a
designated grammar school (like St.B's) and transfer those
arrangements to the care of the Secretary of State under the Funding
Agreement. The legality of the transfer by the governors from the
control of local parents to the Secretary of State without the express
approval of those parents is highly questionable in my view.

How long the selective arrangements at an converted grammar school
will last is also highly questionable, particularly if a Labour
government is returned to power; it is entirely a matter for the
Secretary of State with no constraints.

Regards,
Paul Dodgshun