To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library the guidance issued by his Department to local authorities in each month since January 2005 on the establishment of academies; and if he will make a statement. (149888)

A large number of publications issued by my Department to local authorities include guidance on academies. The most recent specific guidance to local authorities on academies is included in ‘400 Academies—Prospectus for Sponsors and Local Authorities’ (ISBN: 1-84478-682-X) published in May 2007. Copies of this have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what value for money assessment of academies has been (a) completed and (b) planned; and if he will make a statement. (150838)

The National Audit Office has examined whether the academies programme is able to meet its objectives and to deliver value for money. Its report ‘The Academies Programme’ was prepared under section 6 of the National Audit Act 1983 for presentation to the House of Commons in accordance with section 9 of the Act, and was published on 23 February 2007. The report examined whether the academies programme was “able to meet its objectives and to deliver value for money”, and concluded that:

“Given the progress made by most academies so far in improving the quality of education for their pupils, the academies programme is on track to deliver good value for money.”

Academies are a key element of the drive to raise standards; raising aspirations and creating opportunity in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country. There are no current plans for further “value for money” reviews of the programme.