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Schools minister defends academy policy

Schools minister Nick Gibb defends plans to turn every state school in England into an academy.

Plans to turn every state school in England into an academy have been criticised by Conservative councillors.

Several have called for the policy to be reversed, including the councillor responsible for education in David Cameron's Oxfordshire constituency.

Schools minister Nick Gibb told Today the proposals were aimed at giving "more autonomy to professionals" who would be freed from "interference from the local authority".

"You can't have two systems. You have to have one consistent system," he said.

11 minutes

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