I regard the number of mainstream schools converting to Academies as a key statistical indicator in the environment in which we have concluded that proposing Paces Special Free School is the correct strategy for Paces School and for (part of) the future of Conductive Education in the UK.
Responding to the Wolf Report in Parliament, Michael Gove had this to say on Academies:
We have also created more than 400 new academies, tripling the number we inherited,
creating more academies in twelve months than the last Government did in twelve
years.
And I can confirm to the House today that we have now received over 1000
applications from schools wishing to become academies and more than 300
applications to set up free schools, many from great teachers like the inspirational
head Patricia Sowter and the former Downing Street aide Peter Hyman.
(He doesn't actually mention Paces' Special Free School proposal - one day he might!)