SCHOOLS across Dorset look set to become academies within weeks as Education Secretary Michael Gove pushes the required legislation through Parliament.

He hopes the Academies Bill will become law by next Monday, ensuring top schools in the area can take control of their finances and day-to-day running by the start of the new term in September.

Schools rated as outstanding by government inspectors will have an automatic right to become academies. Such schools registering an interest in this area include Lytchett Minster School, Cranborne Middle, Allenbourn Middle, Parkstone Grammar, Courthill First, Twynham, Bransgore, Ringwood, Emmanuel Middle, Mudeford Infants, Muscliff Primary, Lytchett Minster Primary and Hampreston.

Other schools can apply for academy status but it will not necessarily be granted. Interested schools in this area include Bournemouth School, St Michael’s Primary, Bicknell, Ferndown Middle, Okeford Fitzpaine Primary, The Grange, Wareham Middle, Arnewood School, Carter Community, Longspee and Poole Grammar.

Academies are all-ability, state-funded schools, which are established and managed by sponsors from a wide range of backgrounds including high-performing schools, colleges and universities, businesses and the faith communities.

Sponsors are encouraged to challenge traditional thinking on how schools are run and what they should be like.

The governing body and head teacher have responsibility for managing the academy, including running the finances, appointing staff and setting salaries.

But they remain bound by current rules on schools admissions and special needs policies and are required to follow the national curriculum programmes of study in English, maths, science and ICT.

Michael Gove has faced a barrage of criticism amid claims he is rushing the legislation through Parliament without enough time for debate.

“I cannot remember a time when a major reform of public services was rushed through Parliament in a way that’s only normally done for emergencies like anti-terrorism legislation,” said Labour leadership contender Ed Balls.

“Rushing big changes before they’ve been properly thought through is a sure fire way to get things wrong.”

But a government spokesman rejected the criticism and said: “Enough time has been set aside for a thorough debate.”

Bournemouth council’s service director for children’s learning and engagement Di Mitchell said: “The local authority provides valuable support to schools with professional advice on curriculum, learning and teaching, staffing and management.

“If a school chooses to become an academy this support would still be available but as part of a costed service unless they are a school causing concern, in which case it would be the duty of the council to intervene.”

Poole’s council’s strategic director for children’s services Anne Newton said: “Should schools become academies from September they will come under direct control of the Secretary of State moving away from the local authority. Their funding will come via the Young People’s Learning Agency.

“The additional funding academies will receive above their current budget will be drawn from across the council’s services. The admissions process for school places in 2011 has already been agreed and it is not anticipated that there will be any changes to this should a school become an academy.”

She added that a number of local schools had registered an interest in becoming an academy.

Dorset County Council’s head of school learning and improvement, John England, said: “We have a lot of outstanding schools that are eligible to become the new form of academy.

“We have had little information from the DfE and no opportunity for discussion so remain unclear as to how this will work.

“However, if these schools do become academies, there potentially could be a serious impact on the services for children and young people in Dorset.”