Local education authorities are being forced to consider building city academies after the government hinted that funding for other schools projects could be jeopardised if authorities do not participate in the initiative.

LEAs from the first wave of the government鈥檚 好色先生TV Schools for the Future programme claim they are facing 鈥渉eavy pressure鈥� to accept the academies, which are part-funded by private sponsors and topped up with government cash. The LEAs say they risk losing out on funding if they do not comply.

Newcastle council has reconsidered its original rejection of an academy after the Department for Education and Skills hinted that it could withdraw funding from other schools projects.

Newcastle councillor Nick Cott said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e been forced down this route. At one meeting with the DfES we were told we would have to make a very robust case for not having an academy. We鈥檙e now having to act pragmatically, or we risk losing 拢130m of funding.鈥�