Several other measures are geared towards boosting the number of academies, for example the dropping of the requirement for academies to have a subject specialism and the extension of the programme to sixth form colleges.

BBC: Schools Bill: Who's taking charge?

Mr Samaras' expected plan to request a two-year extension on its austerity programme has provoked frustration among other European politicians.

BBC: Antonis Samaras

Michael Fuchs, deputy chairman of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU parliamentary group, said his faction would not give Greece the two-year extension it wants on its austerity programme.

BBC: Antonis Samaras