To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what external assessments of the academies programme will be (a) completed and (b) published in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (166028)

In February 2003, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to conduct an independent five-year evaluation of the academies programme. The aim of the evaluation is to assess the overall effectiveness of the programme in terms of its contribution to educational standards, and to examine the impact of key features of academies including sponsorship, governance, leadership and buildings. The first four reports have already been published and the fifth and final report will be published in summer 2008.