Recently, I have received a large number of emails from constituents who are concerned about the government’s plans to force all schools to become academies. I understand why they are worried.

There is a serious crises in education. We have a shortage of teachers and many plan to take early retirement because of the burdens being placed on them. Class sizes are rising and there is a growing gap between the attainments of disadvantaged children and others. The assessment system is in chaos with new systems being introduced without staff having proper information or adequate time to prepare.

None of these problems will be solved by forcing schools to become academies. Many of our secondary schools have been forced down this path and heads have felt they had no choice. Now primary schools are being placed in the same position.

Yet there is no evidence that becoming an academy, by itself, leads to improvements in pupil performance. The Chief Inspector of Schools has already written to the Secretary of State highlighting “serious weaknesses” in academy chains. We all know that what makes a good school is a good head and good teachers, yet instead of supporting teachers the government has left them to struggle in a system facing a cut of 8% in real terms over the next five years. For four years the government have missed their target for recruiting trainee teachers, and key subjects like maths and science are the worst hit.

These are the problems the government should be trying to solve instead of leaving schools with unqualified staff and removing parents’ rights to be represented on governing bodies.

If our children are going to get the best start in life then we should be encouraging schools to work together, to share best practice and, at secondary level, to co-operate to offer our young people the widest choice of subjects. Many schools in Warrington already work together very successfully.

Forcing schools into academy chains which are given public assets, are not publicly accountable and do not have proper parental representation is not the way forward. Our children deserve better.