An investigation by The Independent newspaper today has claimed that officials from the Department of Education are offering £65,000 “bribes” to convince reluctant headteachers to convert their schools to academies. The incentives are being offered to schools which drop their opposition to academy status. The paper alleges that £40,000 in payments have been offered to 32 schools in Lancashire alone.  “This is a disgrace” says County Cllr Bill Winlow “and will wreck the Local Education Authority and all it support structures for local schools if it is allowed to continue”.