Schools converting to academies cost councils £30m, BBC reveals

Millions of pounds of debt have been inherited by councils across England as schools convert to academies, a BBC investigation has revealed.

Opponents say local authorities are forced to use their government education grant to clear the debts.

A BBC Freedom of Information request shows more than £30m has been cleared, with one school's debt totalling £1m.

The Department for Education said local authorities should pay the debt as it was accumulated under their control.

The Local Government Association said vital cash was being taken from schools not involved in the scheme.

School debts per region	Total debt since 2010
North West	£7,014,407
London	£5,111,347
West Midlands	£4,980,104
Yorkshire and Humber	£4,399,601
South West	£3,421,117
East Midlands	£2,751,182
South East	£2,319,022
East	£1,979,235
North East	£530,764

The BBC's FOI to all local authorities in England revealed £32.5m has been spent by councils on clearing debts since the Academies Act was introduced in 2010.

Under the academies scheme, when council-maintained schools choose to convert, local authorities have to pick up the tab for the costs of conversion including the cost of any deficit and legal fees.