TEACHERS have voted to strike over plans to privatise three schools via the academy programme.

Parents of pupils at the schools, Peacehaven Heights Primary School, Telscombe Cliffs School and Peacehaven Community School (PCS), have been campaigning against plans by East Sussex County Council to hand the schools over to a private company.

The National Education Union (NEU) said Freedom of Information requests were submitted to the county council, asking it to disclose the name of the private company involved.

The union said the council declined to release the information, citing “commercial confidentiality”.

However, East Sussex County Council said parents from Peacehaven Community School show strong support for Swale Academies Trust to be involved.

Amanda Tams, a parent of a child at Telscombe Cliffs Primary School, said: “We know academies on average don’t improve as fast as local education authority schools, they exclude children more and take resources away from the front line to fund excessive chief executive salaries.

"Importantly, the schools would no longer be accountable to the local community or elected local education authority representatives.

"Instead, decisions are taken by unelected trustees based elsewhere in the country who may not share the same priorities.”

Phil Clarke, secretary of the Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden National Education Union, said: “Staff at PCS have worked incredibly hard to improve the school but do not have confidence this can be maintained long-term.

“We believe a normal governing body should be reconstituted so permanent decisions about the fate of a school the community campaigned so hard to get in the first place are taken by representatives of the community.

“Sooner or later there will have to be an acceptance that after nearly 20 years of the academy programme there is no evidence they improve standards compared to local education authority schools.

“There is plenty of evidence they invite excessive management pay, high exclusion rates and damage special education needs provision.”

The first strikes are due to take place after the Easter Holidays.

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: "We work with all schools, regardless of their status, to ensure that every child in East Sussex is given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

“We have been working closely with Peacehaven Heights Primary School and Telscombe Cliffs Primary School to improve outcomes for all pupils, staff and skilled governors.

“This has included providing support and advice to the governing board about considering conversion to an academy with a strong performing academy trust.

"The governing board are at an early stage of considering academy conversion and a full consultation with staff, parents and the school community would take place before any final decision is reached.

“With regards to Peacehaven Community School, a full consultation was completed in 2017, and the school community has been regularly updated on progress.

“During the consultation there was very strong support from parents for the continued involvement of Swale Academies Trust.

"It remains the view of the local authority and the IEB that this is the right course of action to secure strong leadership and continued improvements at the school.

“We recognise that the current governance arrangements at the school have been in place for some time and they have been regularly reviewed to ensure their ongoing effectiveness. The IEB has led the improvements at the school and was successful in working with staff and leaders to secure a good Ofsted judgement for the school in October last year.

“Swale Academies Trust has provided senior leadership at the school since November 2015 and has been instrumental in enabling the school to make good progress.

“We anticipate that the academy conversion will be completed in the next few months and that all parties will continue to work together to ensure a strong future for its pupils, staff and community.

"Swale Academy Trust has a proven track record of running highly effective schools and all multi-academy trusts are accountable to the Regional Schools Commissioner.”