It now takes more than a year on average to convert “inadequate” schools into academies, according to new figures that show the length of time the process is taking is increasing.

Data published by the Department for Education (DfE) shows that, on average, it took 13.5 months to convert schools with Ofsted’s lowest rating to academy status in 2018-19.

This compared with an overall “all-time” figure of 11.6 months for schools to be converted and taken on by an academy sponsor. The data does not specify which years are covered in this figure.

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The figures are contained in performance indicators for regional schools commissioners published by the DfE.

The DfE tables also show how the length of time taken for inadequate schools to be taken on by an academy trust varies between different parts of the country.

In the West Midlands, it took almost a year and a half (17.3 months) to convert inadequate rated schools into academies in 2018-19.

In the North of England and the region covering the South East and South London, the figure was 14.9 months, and in the South West it took 14.1 months.

But in the East of England and North East London region, the conversion of inadequate schools took 8.8 months.

The government issues academy orders to schools which are given an Ofsted rating of inadequate.

Last year, more than 50 failing schools had not been converted into academies 18 months after the government ordered them to do, according to Ofsted.

Figures from the watchdog showed there are 51 schools that had been given a directive academy order (DAO) after being rated “inadequate” by inspectors but which have still yet to become an academy a year and a half later.

Performance indicators show that regional schools commissioners are also judged by the number and proportion of academies, free schools and university technical colleges that are rated as inadequate by Ofsted in their area.

These figures show that in the South West, 25 per cent of free schools were given this judgement by Ofsted inspectors.

In the North of England, an area which covers the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria, one in 10 free schools were rated inadequate.

In contrast, the East Midlands and Humber and in the South East and South London region there were no free schools given an inadequate judgement.

The South West had the highest proportion of academies with inadequate judgments (5.4 per cent) while the East of England and North East London had the lowest with 1.7 per cent.