The debate for schools to become academies continues and much has been aired on the news over the past weekend.

However, having listened to the debate, to me this spells out stress and danger for both pupils and teachers alike. We are already seeing children being weighed down with additional homework and higher standards to be reached for examinations.

Many children have already suffered as they are not emotionally equipped to deal with the  demands at such a young age. Surely, this can’t create a healthy childhood?

Additional or unrealistic demands and pressure at a very young age does not lead to a balanced upbringing and can do nothing but kill creativity and drain confidence.

OK, a few may excel at the challenge, but not the majority. Surely, this is widening the gap therefore detrimental in these early years of learning?

I’m open minded about  most things, but for me to be convinced that all schools should aim for academy status the research needs to be  clearer and far more convincing, which at this point in time is not forthcoming.