PARENTS have set up a petition over plans to turn a city school into an academy.

Stanley Road Primary School intends to join the Wolverhampton-based Perry Hall Multi Academy Trust, in part due to its track record of success.

However, some parents say the school has failed to carry out a proper consultation and think the move will affect accountability and resources at the school.

City councillor Louise Griffiths, who lives near the site, in Stanley Road, and plans to send her daughter there, said: “I don’t think they should go ahead with the plans to make it an academy.

“It’s not a good system. It takes schools out of the Local Education Authority (LEA). We need to have a school that’s accountable to the LEA.

“This is our children’s education, I’d like to know they are being run as a public service not a for-profit model.

“Some academies look at children as cash cows.”

Cllr Griffiths acknowledged that some trusts, such as The Villages’ Multi Academy Trust, in Worcester, are successful, however she is not confident about Perry Hall.

She added that it is no longer government policy to turn schools into academies.

The mother of a child at Stanley Road said it will lose 5.1 per cent of its funding, under the plans.

The mum added that around 40 percent of pupils at the school do not speak English as their first language.

She claimed the parents of these students had not been properly consulted about the plans, as meetings and documents were only in English until October.

However, some parents are in favour of the proposal and have set up a counter petition supporting the school’s decision.

A statement from the school’s governing body said: “The governing body has spent a considerable amount of time exploring various options available to obtain the best support for the school.

“We have debated joining local Multi Academy Trusts, as well as setting up our own.

“We have taken the decision to join Perry Hall very carefully, because we agree this particular Multi Academy Trust understands the unique identity of Stanley Road - which is unlike any other school in Worcestershire.

“It is clear to them we are a good, well managed school, that serves the needs of its community and are happy for us to continue to do so with a strong level of independence.

“A lot of information and figures are being circulated that are incorrect and unsubstantiated.

We have been open and transparent over the last 12 months communicating with parents through newsletters, parent forums, and provided a number of opportunities to meet with the MAT to ask questions and raise concerns.

“The governors have been available at all these meetings and at parents evening.

“The diverse community is represented on the governing body and we have actively spoken with parents, some in their native languages on the playground and school corridors to seek out their views. 

“Since September all correspondence regarding the Multi Academy Trust have been made available in a variety of languages and the 'translate button' has always been available on the website. 

“We have answered all the questions put to us repeatedly, although admittedly there were delays in some cases over the summer and not all the information was updated on the website. This oversight has been corrected and apologies given. 

“Requests were made to extend the consultation period - which was granted. Requests were made to ballot parental opinion - which was granted.

“The response has been overwhelmingly in favour of joining Perry Hall and will be published shortly. The majority of parents are satisfied that the governors and the headteacher are doing what is in the best interests of the children and the school.

“We have worked tirelessly to fulfil the obligations to the school in making this decision but unfortunately, there are a minority of parents that are unhappy with the decision for a variety of reasons, introspective of the responses they have received to their concerns.  

“We are satisfied that this particular Multi Academy Trust will benefit the children at Stanley Road Primary School and offer greater opportunities for growth.

“We have met all statutory requirements and conducted a thorough consultation. The concerns of parents have been included in our due diligence and we have made every effort to be fair, open and available.”

To sign the petition against the plans visit bit.ly/2K3EBmg or if you are for them go on bit.ly/2Flwy5n