A group of parents is taking legal advice in its fight against the academisation of a primary school.

Some families with children at Our Lady of Lourdes primary school in Wanstead are pushing against the Roman Catholic body in charge of the school, Brentwood Diocese, which plans to turn it into an academy.

In becoming an academy, the school would receive its funding directly from central government rather than from the local authority, Redbridge Council.

A number of councillors, including cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Elaine Norman, are against the plans and the authority has vowed to fight academisation “wherever it rears its head” in the borough.

Now, some parents have enlisted the help of a law firm in their fight against the plans and lawyers have written a letter to the school’s governing body.

In the letter, a representative of law firm Leigh Day calls the Catholic body’s consultation process into question, saying the way in which it has discussed plans with parents has not been adequate.

The letter, addressed to the governors, said: “If you intend to go ahead with the conversion of the school to an academy, it is our preliminary view that any decision to do so will be unlawful.

“There does not currently appear to have been any meaningful consultation at all, let alone a lawful consultation. It is also not clear what decisions have been taken or are yet to be taken by the governing body, and on what basis.”

The school’s board of governors is due to meet today and the law firm requested a copy of their letter be made available to all governors prior to this meeting.

The diocese has previously accused Redbridge Council of using “aggressive” tactics in its handling of the academisation discussion.

Cllr Paul Donovan, who represents Wanstead Village ward and is against the school becoming an academy, said: “It is a pity the parents have had to go to these lengths to try to get their voices heard.

“The church has a real problem with transparency and accountability in the public square it would seem. Maybe now they will listen to the parents’ concerns and act accordingly.”

It is understood the letter has been received by the diocese’s lawyers, who are now dealing with it.

John Anthony, a representative of Good Shepherds Trust which manages the existing Catholic academies in the area believes Cllr Donovan's remarks to be "inaccurate" and "uninformed".

He said: "That 'Maybe now they will listen to the parents concerns and act accordingly’ suggests that the school should act in a particular way in accordance with the views of some parents.

"That is not how schools are managed. They are run by senior leaders and governors in accordance with the trust deeds subject to a huge range of legislation and relevant regulations."

Brentwood Diocese was contacted for comment.