Failing school in our area getting academy status soon and the PR is glowing (obv) and trumpets fantastic exam success rates in its 'sister' school in another authority. (It does stick in the craw somewhat to learn that in an area where education is so very poorly funded by the LA, the new academy now has £2M to spend - on publicity alone .)
Most sec schools is area are dead against it as the excluded pupils that will be inevitably kicked out of the academy will end up there.
Unions are also dead against it as teachers will need to reapply for their jobs and roles will be performance-related.
But it's hard getting viewpoints that aren't based on spin or doom. I can see points from both sides tbh but need some anecdotal evidence too, based on experiences.