A Tory minister has publicly attacked the education secretary over his beleaguered academies expansion plans, it emerged tonight.
Theresa Villiers, the junior transport minister, has written a furious letter to Michael Gove, the education secretary, for turning down a school’s application to become an academy in her constituency.
Gove has said all schools rated outstanding by inspectors will be fast-tracked to become academies – schools run outside of local authority control – if they wish.
But despite being outstanding, Ravenscroft school in Barnet, north London, has had its academy application rejected by the government.