Every school in the country is expected to be turned into an academy under a major classroom shake-up that will see councils lose virtually all their responsibilities for education.

The change is expected to be confirmed in today’s budget and has already triggered a political row.

The move is likely to be opposed by Conservative education authorities like KCC and Medway, who are concerned that the academy programme lacks local checks and balances.

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The budget looks likely to mean further cuts to council budgets, despite town halls having been forced to save millions because of the austerity drive.

Cllr Roger Gough,Kent County Council's cabinet member for schools, questioned the value of converting all schools to academies. He said it was unclear what role the authority might play in terms of school improvement.

"I approve of the principle of schools having freedom, that is a good thing. But where I object is where it is forcing schools to become academies. That seems to go against giving schools freedoms and that is where I part company," he said.

It was unclear what role the authority might now play in school improvement he added.

George Osborne has already flagged up that he plans a £4bn cut in public spending, equivalent to 50p in every £100 spent. And the government revealed last week it would be cutting £1.2bn in disability benefits over the next four years.

And there could be some gloom for motorists amid speculation that fuel prices could increase by the rate of inflation.

On the more positive side, the Chancellor is expected to outline raising the personal allowance to £12,500 by the end of this parliament and the higher rate to £50,000.

For businesses, there will be confirmation of the new apprenticeship levy from 2017.

A new apprenticeship levy of 0.5% on company payrolls will raise £3bn a year and will be imposed from April 2017.

For all the budget news and reaction today, follow our political editor Paul Francis on @PaulOnPolitics and our business editor Chris Price on @TheChrisPrice