Parents at a school threatened by academisation are calling for an immediate halt to the transition process, saying they fear for the education of their children.

Save Our School, Stop the Academy believes Woodford Green Primary School is better off left alone – but governors are planning on bringing it under the Arbor Academy Trust as early as January.

The group wants the school to extend the consultation period, hold a debate detailing the pros and cons of academisation, and consider all other options.

On Monday, September 24, the campaign group which is made up of parents, held a vote, with 38 per cent of families taking part.

The results showed 40 parents were against the plans, 39 were in favour, and four were unsure.

Campaigner Paul Williams, whose two children attend the school in Sunset Avenue, said: “The stakeholders of the school – largely the parents and the teachers – should have the final say. It shouldn’t be a decision made by governors.

“We expected the ‘yes’ to win the vote. We were very surprised because we didn’t start campaigning until last week.

“What the school governors have said is that they intend to proceed regardless of the vote.

“What we are saying is that that is unrealistic, given the outcome of the vote.”

Worried parents have reached out to families at Handsworth School in Highams Park who have been fighting their own battle against academisation since June.

Mr Williams said campaigners have been approached by Redbridge Education Partnership (REP) who offered to let the school join the independent organisation that works to build strong relationships between schools and local authorities.

He believes joining it would be “an opportunity to learn from other good schools”.

Families first got wind of the controversial plans in July, just weeks before the school broke up for summer holidays.

A 28 day consultation followed but Mr Williams said from talking to fellow parents he believes many did not know how to properly respond because they did not fully understand what academistion would mean for pupils.

The school’s governors argue being under an academy will mean additional resources for the school, something which campaigners refuse to believe.

“We think this message is absolutely not true,” added Mr Williams.

“I think we are worried because there is concern about teacher retention and the future of the school under an academy.

“The news of academisation was a shock and I don’t think that parents saw it coming.”

A final decision is expected to be made in October, with the plans, if given the go-ahead, expected to be rolled out in January.

Chairman of Governors Candice Dwight said the school would not extend the consultation period, which ended on Tuesday, September 25.

She said: “Governors will make their final decision next week and will carefully weigh up all the information, including the analysis of the stakeholder surveys - both the yes/no responses and the written comments.

“These will all be reviewed, collated and analysed and will feed into a key report that governors will use to inform their decision making.

“Governors will also take into account the views of staff, who have been working with the Arbor Academy Trust for the past 18 months.”

Ms Dwight said it is not a decision governors “will take lightly” and said all evidence will be considered “to ensure the best decision is made for the future of our school”.