A TOTAL of more than 60 people have taken part in a protest march against the proposed creation of a Leyton trust school.

The march took place on Wednesday (July 15) and about 100 signatures were also gathered on a petition to be presented to the council.

NUT secretary Rinaldo Frezzato said: “What this shows is that union members are still 100 per cent determined to fight on.”

He added that he was hoping for a stronger crowd but adverse weather conditions and a lack of publicity had kept people away.

Under the proposals, Norlington School for Boys and what is soon to be George Mitchell All-Through School will be governed by a single trust, run by the Institute of Education (IOE).

Various campaigners, including NUT members and those involved in the Leyton Triangle group, took part in the march, which began at Leyton Cricket Ground and finished at the town hall.

The petition, which is now to be sent out to every school in the borough, states: “There is no evidence to suggest that trusts will raise pupil achievement.

“There already exists sufficient flexibility for schools to work together without losing democratic local authority accountability.”

Following two walk-outs at Norlington this month, further strike action has been requested for the autumn but formal confirmation has not yet been given.

Members of the University and College Union at the IOE have also said they are against trust status, saying it is “wholly inappropriate”, and have moved to boycott involvement.

Questions have also been raised over the use of land on the Leyton Cricket Ground site and campaigners claim sports facilities will be lost as a result.