PLANS to make all state schools academies have been slammed as an attack on democracy by the council’s schools chief.

The proposals, which would see all state schools turned into academies by 2022, were officially unveiled by chancellor George Osborne in his last budget.

There has been a large backlash to the plans from people from across the political spectrum slamming the plans.

State schools are currently under local authority control but the move would see them come under the control of self-governing trusts and could see them also gain sponsorship from private firms.

They would receive funding from central government and not the local authority, and they would not have to follow the national curriculum. The schools could also see each school pick and choose their school hours and when they have their holidays.

Now, in response to the plans, Cllr James McInnes, Devon County Council’s brief holder for schools, said he believed they were wrong.

He said: “As a Conservative I struggle with this. I am not against schools taking ownership and control, schools are independent places now.

“But I believe it is wrong to try to force heads and governors into following a path they would not otherwise choose – especially when there is no evidence to suggest that this approach will improve performance.

“Eighty-six per cent of our children in Devon are already being taught in schools judged good or outstanding by Ofsted compared to 80 per cent nationally.

“And while people can remove me at the ballot box if they are not happy, the role of overseeing the performance of academies is being passed to unelected and faceless bureaucrats in London and Bristol.

"I can see no democracy in that.”

The original plan was unveiled by Mr Osborne during his budget speech last month, and revealed an intention to turn 18,600 schools into academies within six years.

The criticism come as just days after it was rumoured the government was considering a dramatic U-turn over the policy to enforce the transformation.

Cllr McInnes has also been joined by other council chiefs condemning the plans, with Somerset County Council’s member for children and families Frances Nicholson writing to secretary of state for education Nicky Morgan, condemning the proposals as 'deplorable'.