A NINETEENTH primary school looks set to convert to academy status, with Croydon's education chief admitting he would "not be surprised" if all the council's primaries were academies within five years.
The "outstanding" Fairchildes, in New Addington, has won approval from the Department for Education (DfE) to convert to academy status, subject to formal consultation with parents.
If it goes ahead it is also looking at bringing the less successful nearby Rowdown school alongside, leaving no council-run primaries in New Addington and Fieldway.
There are no secondary schools left under Croydon Council's direct control, a dramatic shift since academies were introduced in 2000.
The shift has sparked some concerns but the council's education chief says he is not worried about the shift in emphasis.
Cabinet member for learners and families, Tim Pollard, said: "From where I sit there is no difference between a local authority school and an academy.
"We have got very supportive groups of academies who work together and work with the local authority.
"I would not be surprised if in five years, all of the primary schools were academies.
"But really it does not matter providing the schools have a will to work together and to work with the local authorities."
The council still monitors schools and, Cllr Pollard added, can refer them to the Secretary of State or Ofsted it they fail to respond to its concerns.
Adapting to its changing role, the council is setting up a company to sell education services to schools and earn back some of the Government education cash that goes directly to academies.
But Councillor Kathy Bee, the council's shadow education spokesperson, said she worried the council may end up with too little money to effectively monitor academies.
"Croydon Council is still doing at least one visit a year to all the academies, but that might become unaffordable," she said.
She added that in her view, academies' success was due to their leadership, rather than their structure, and leadership could always change.
One of the reasons for outstanding primary schools' recent plans to convert has been so they can help weaker schools as an academy sponsor.
Without that structure, there remains the risk the DfE might pick an academy chain to take over the weaker school, in line with its policy of converting under-performing primaries.
Last year it picked the Harris Federation to take over Roke school, sparking huge opposition among parents.
Cllr Pollard said: "It is more sensible for the school providing support to become academies themselves.
"That way, before the DFE says 'you must become a sponsored academy and we will choose,' you get to choose."
