Local authorities are key partners in the development of academies, and my Department works closely with local authorities on the development of academy projects and the organisation of secondary provision in their areas more generally.
The Department's academies prospectus for sponsors and local authorities states that, as a broad rule of thumb, the Government are prepared to consider any secondary school where fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils gained five or more good GCSEs (including English and Maths) as a potential academy project. It also states that local authorities should always consider an academy as an option for dealing with a school in special measures, or subject to an improvement notice, whatever its results.