THE government has come under fire in East Lancashire over plans to turn the worst performing primary schools into academies.

Schools in the bottom 200 in the country would be taken out of local authority control and run by more successful local schools.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said schools which left pupils without a good grasp of English and maths ‘should no longer be tolerated’.

At present the Department for Education lists two East Lancashire schools - Cherry Fold Community School and Springfield Community School, both Burnley - in the bottom 200 based on Key Stage Two SATs tests.

But is not yet clear exactly what the measure will be for the new scheme, or how schools would actually run their failing counterparts.

Coun Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen Council's Labour executive member for children's services, criticised the Conservative plans.

She said: “The reality on the ground in Blackburn with Darwen schools is difficult to reconcile with the Secretary of State’s description of how schools work with local authorities.

“Blackburn with Darwen Council has a strong track record of helping schools improve and transform results since it became a unitary authority - taking on responsibility for education - 14 years ago.

“The council has empowered schools in making their own decisions, challenged where appropriate and overseen an unprecedented level of improvement in a relatively short space of time.”

East Lancashire NUT representative Simon Jones added: “There’s no proof whatsoever that turning schools into academies raising standards.

“If schools are struggling making them independent seems counter productive.”

County Coun Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said they had not yet received any information from the government and pointed out that they handed many ‘outstanding and high performing schools’.

Mr Gove said the academy programme improved schools, giving them more control over curriculum and how they spend money.

He said: “Heads and teachers should run schools and they should be more accountable to parents instead of politicians. We must go faster and further in using the programme to deal with underperforming schools. ”