David Cameron to give all schools chance to become academies free of local authorities

The pledge will be made to mark 100 days since the Tory election win

Cameron will say his second term will tackle problems in society and not simply the economy (Getty) (Getty)

All schools will be given the chance to become academies free of local authority control, David Cameron will pledge to mark 100 days since the election of the Conservative Government.

The Prime Minister will promise measures to make easier for schools to become academies, but will stop short of saying that they would all be forced to adopt that status eventually. The Government will step up its efforts to find more academy sponsors and support headteachers who want to forge academy chains.

Mr Cameron will say: “At a time when the Labour Party is giving up on public service reform and appealing to its left-wing base, I believe it is a moment for a Conservative majority government to be bolder still.”

He will argue: “There is no better example than academy schools. We want everyone to have a chance to succeed and education is the best way of ensuring that. This means schools with strong standards and discipline, offering our children a firm foundation for future success.”

Mr Cameron will promise to use his second term to tackle problems in society and not to focus solely on the economy. He will say: “Just as Conservative ideas have won the debate on how to manage the economy, so I believe Conservative ideas can now shape the future in meeting the challenges facing our whole society too.”

But Labour said the last 100 days had shown that Mr Cameron had failed in his post-election promise to govern for “one nation.” Lucy Powell, the shadow Cabinet Office Minister, said: “David Cameron has announced a cut to tax credits which will mean three million working families working families losing out; he’s failed to deliver on a promise to help with childcare; and he’s still taking the NHS backwards, watering down targets while standards of care fall further and patients wait longer. He’ll be judged on actions, not words.”

Doctors’ leaders accused the Government of “chasing headlines” on health and alienating NHS staff. Mark Porter, who chairs the BMA Council, said: “The first 100 days have been characterised by a focus on rhetoric at the expense of detail. We have seen no detail on how the £22bn black hole in NHS finances in England is going to be closed, no definition about seven-day services, and an apparent intention to water down safeguards for patients and doctors. Taken with instructions for a recruitment freeze and hospital trusts currently facing deficits of £822m, this adds up to a poor performance on the health service by the new Government.”