THE government's u-turn on its plan to force all schools in England to become academies has been welcomed by educationalist across Furness, Millom and South Cumbria.  

The climbdown by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan comes after a backlash to the proposal to take schools out of local authority control by 2022. 

The dropped plan faced opposition from teaching unions, teachers, parents, councils and MPs. The Department for Education said ministers had listened to feedback. Officials stressed the government was still committed to seeing all schools becoming academies, but new laws forcing the "blanket conversion" is no longer necessary.

Captain Shaw's CE Primary School, in Bootle, has been looking at academy models following the government's academies plan. 

The rural primary will still explore its options, but its headteacher, Peter Mills, said now they are not being forced they are not in a major rush. 

Mr Mills said: "I'm surprised by how quickly this u-turn has happened. 

"I think a lot of people will breathe a sign of relief. A plan that is forced is not a good idea. 

"It was turning education into a full business model."

Chris Brooksbank, Cumbria secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "It's good to hear they have made a u-turn.

"I really do hope that they start to listen to teachers, parents, governors and councillors on other education issues, a lot of people have serious concerns about the way education is being used as a political football."     Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, said: “Forcing all schools to become academies never made any sense and I am glad the government finally seem to have seen the error of their ways on this. With class sizes rising and a real teacher shortage, it is obvious that the education secretary needs to stop putting school leaders under unnecessary pressure with these aborted plans and let them get on with running our schools and teaching our children.”

Mrs Morgan said:"I am reaffirming our determination to see all schools become academies. However, having listened to the feedback from Parliamentary colleagues and the education sector we will now change the path to reaching that goal."