Plans by the Education Minister to transform failing schools into academies have been blasted by Bradford Council’s politician responsible for children’s services, who described it as a “power grab” by London.

Councillor Ralph Berry, the executive member for children’s services, said the best way to tackle struggling schools was for the local authority to get greater powers of intervention.

Earlier this week, Education Secretary Michael Gove said every primary school in England in special measures, or been given a notice to improve by Ofsted, would become a sponsored academy.

Bradford has four schools in special measures including Thornbury Primary School, Peel Park Primary, Windhill C of E Primary School and Hanson School, which is a secondary school. Merlin Top Primary School has a notice to improve but it is not in special measures.

Coun Berry said: “This is a power grab to wrestle direct control of those schools so they can be taken down the academy route and eventually transferred to a private sponsor.

“We are not an authority afraid to take difficult measures. But what could happen now is any headteacher who takes on a school will be thinking their career could be destroyed. Those schools, including Thornbury and Peel Park have established rapid improvement strategies and they are now being told they are not in charge of their destiny.

“The unforeseen consequence of this measure is destroying the careers of the very people we need to nurture.

“This is political manipulation of the worst order and will not speed up school improvements, rather it will lead to paralysis.”

Lloyd Mason-Edwards, the headteacher of Peel Park Primary, said the school was making good progress.

“We are well on track to come out of special measures next term and staff and pupils are working extremely hard to raise standards with the full support of the governing body,” he added.

Philippa Foster, the headteacher of Windhill C of E Primary, said since going into special measures, the school had an entirely new leadership team.

“Their ambition and clear educational direction has had a significant impact on improving the school from where it was,” she said.

Mike Harrison, the headteacher of Merlin Top, said: “Merlin Top is an improving school. Children are making good progress.”