MPs announce inquiry into certain aspects of the academies programme

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.

The deadline for receipt of evidence is Thursday 19 December.

Please note
As part of a scheme to encourage paperless working and maximise efficiency, the Committee is using a new web portal for online submissions of written evidence. Written submissions for this inquiry should therefore be sent via the Education Committee website.

The deadline is Thursday 19 December 2013. Submissions should be no longer than 3000 words.

Submissions should be in the format of a self-contained memorandum. Paragraphs should be numbered for ease of reference, and the document should, if possible, include an executive summary.

Submissions should be original work, not previously published or circulated elsewhere. Once submitted, your submission becomes the property of the Committee and no public use should be made of it unless you have first obtained permission from the Clerk of the Committee. Please bear in mind that Committees are not able to investigate individual cases.

The Committee normally, though not always, chooses to publish the written evidence it receives, either by printing the evidence, publishing it on the internet or by making it publicly available through the Parliamentary Archives. If there is any information you believe to be sensitive you should highlight it and explain what harm you believe would result from its disclosure; the Committee will take this into account in deciding whether to publish or further disclose the evidence. Please proof-read your submission before sending it; Committee staff cannot undertake to correct typos or typesetting errors before publication.

For data protection purposes, individuals wishing to submit written evidence are asked for their contact details. You should be aware that there may be circumstances in which the House of Commons will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch Committees