ALL Saints School has announced plans to convert to an academy and form a 21 -school Catholic multi-academy trust across the region.

Ebor Academy Trust has schools throughout Yorkshire while Hope Academy Trust announced a new school in Thirsk to add to those in York and Barlby.

As these academy chains’ attentions are increasingly drawn outside of York, the challenge going forward will be retaining the previously good working relationship all York schools - whatever their status - have had with the local authority.

At present, the individuals involved are well known to each-other but over time they will change.

The structure of academy chains intentionally doesn’t fit well with the local authority model, putting the York family of schools under pressure.

What is gained by conversion? There are no financial rewards and scant evidence that conversion improves education standards. Any benefits of inter-school collaboration can be achieved within a local authority setting.

Many head teachers and governing bodies nationally now regret the path they have been led down.

A Labour government would end forced academy conversions. A Labour council will unambiguously support all York schools but we will be equally unambiguous in supporting maintained schools to shun academy conversion.

Cllr Jonny Crawshaw (Labour),

Micklegate Ward,

Wentworth Road, York