Council leaders have opposed plans to convert all schools into academies, saying the move 'defied reason'.

Chancellor George Osborne is expected to make the announcement in today's Budget, but the Local Government Association (LGA) warned there was no evidence that schools performed better in the hands of academies.

Chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) children and young people board, Roy Perry, said: ‘Forcing schools to become academies strips parents, teachers and faith groups of any local choice.

‘The LGA opposes both forced academisation and giving significant powers relating to education to unelected civil servants, with parents and residents unable to hold them to account at the ballot box.’ .

Only 15% of academy chains perform above the national average compared to 44% of councils, the LGA claimed.