According to Tony Blair one day every secondary school will be either a trust or a city academy. He may well be correct and I am of the view that it may not be a bad thing. As long as Academies remain in the depressed hearts of the old towns and cities and, perhaps most importantly of all, maintain their all-ability intake then progressive thinkers on the Left should not worry too much.

The latest news that Blair plans to double the number of new city Academies to 400 is bound to ruffle more than a few Labour feathers at all levels of the party.

Where do you stand on Academies? Are you for or against them?

I have declared my 'conditional support' for Academies in articles for the TES here and for the Guardian here.

Do you agree that for many communities trapped in a cycle of educational failure and a culture of low-expectations such schools can offer new energy, new purpose and new opportunities for the young people who deserve better? Or are they a huge waste of money that could be better directed towards existing schools?