NEW Government policy forcing failing schools to become academies would be difficult to implement in Bradford, warns a teaching union.

Every school in England rated inadequate by Ofsted would be turned into an academy under the Education and Adoption Bill, presented today by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan.

The new powers would speed up the process of changing a failing school's leadership and stop campaigners "obstructing" takeovers, according to the Department for Education (DfE).

Ms Morgan introduced the Bill to Parliament today and said up to 1,000 failing schools would be turned into academies under the new laws.

"Today's landmark Bill will allow the best education experts to intervene in poor schools from the first day we spot failure," she said, adding that it would also sweep away "bureaucratic and legal loopholes" which could be exploited.

The Bill also means "coasting schools" could be offered support, but could also result in their heads being replaced or being forced to become academies.

Academies are schools that are publicly funded, but not under Council control.

Bradford spokesman for the National Union of Teachers Ian Murch said the move would not necessarily work - as academy chains may not want to take on failing schools.

In September, Belle Vue Boys School, which was placed in special measures after being judged inadequate last year, will be taken over by the Beckfoot Academy chain. However, Bradford Council had been looking for an academy sponsor for the Heaton school for several years without any luck.

Mr Murch said: "There are schools in Bradford that they haven't been able to find an academy chain for, and there is no reason to think that will change. Nicky Morgan hasn't been able to explain how this will be done.

"What will happen if you are in an authority where you can't find people who want to be head teachers at a certain school?

"No one will want to take jobs at schools that are facing difficulties when they could be replaced as soon as an academy takes over. We need a proper strategy for improving schools."

Councillor Susan Hinchliffe, the executive member for education on Bradford Council, said she would be raising her concerns with the Regional Schools Commissioner.

"We all know that the best schools pride themselves on having excellent relationships with parents and the communities where they are located. So any attempt to sideline parents by discounting their views has to be seen as a retrograde step.

"Naturally parents want quality teaching for their children and this is inevitably a strong element of how they judge an academy sponsor. If this isn't going to happen in the future then I think they will need to be assured that there is going to be a more rigorous assessment of academy chains."

Councillor Debbie Davies, Conservative spokesman for education, added: "Turning a school into an academy should be very much a last option. However this has worked in other parts of the country and children shouldn't be languishing in schools that are failing."