Ministers have been called on to rethink their push towards making schools academies amid fears over their "one-size-fits-all" approach.

Louise Goldsmith, Tory leader of West Sussex County Council, has written to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan voicing concerns about how vulnerable children would fare under the plans.

Ms Goldsmith warned the drive to make all state schools academies by 2020 would make it harder for councils to provide enough places for children.

Although she backed a drive to raise standards, Ms Goldsmith said: "I have reservations that the 'one-size-fits-all' academies approach that ministers are proposing does not seem to promote any benefits to pupils and parents in West Sussex."

She added: "We have very specific concerns about how vulnerable children will fare under the proposals - a statutory responsibility that will rightly remain with the council but with very few powers to help us to fulfil that duty."

Ms Goldsmith also said she was struck by the "force of feeling" from councillors of all political colours who were concerned about a "lack of democratic accountability".

"Above all else there was a sense that good outcomes for children and young people were not driving the proposed reforms, especially for the most vulnerable children," she went on.

This week Burgess Hill headteacher Kit Messenger quit the profession after 23 years, citing concerns about forced academisation and "factory farming" of pupils.

In an impassioned resignation letter, Ms Messenger, 45, of 530-pupil Manor Field Primary School in Burgess Hill, described her decision to resign as "heart-breaking".

David Cameron has said schools have "nothing to fear" from being forced to become academies, insisting the plans represent "true devolution" because power will be taken away from councils and given to headteachers.