HUNDREDS of people are fighting the Government’s plans to turn a school into academy.

Education chiefs want Moulsecoomb Primary in Brighton to become an academy after Ofsted inspectors rated it inadequate.

But Brighton and Hove City Council has opposed the plan and called for the “privatisation process” to be stopped.

Now more than 600 people have signed an online petition which raises “serious concerns” about the school being forced to join a multi-academy trust.

It says: “We do not accept or want to see Moulsecoomb Primary School handed over from the local authority to a multi-academy trust and do not believe that academisation and the removal of local democratic accountability will improve outcomes for pupils.”

The petition claims there is no evidence that becoming an academy raises standards.

It highlights the fact that academies can hire unqualified teachers.

The petition says: “Moulsecoomb is an inclusive school with students from a variety of backgrounds and we are concerned that an academy will ‘off roll’ low-achieving pupils to make results look better.

“Multi-academy trusts are less accountable to parents and the local community.

“Academy schools do not receive any extra money.

“Multi-academy trusts have been criticised for excessive salaries and expenses for CEOs, which diverts money away from the classroom.

“Becoming an academy is a permanent decision that cannot be reversed.

“Moulsecoomb Primary School can improve educational outcomes and its Ofsted rating without being forced to join an unaccountable multi-academy trust and should be given the time and support to do so.”

One parent who signed the petition, Becka Gardner, said: “My kids are happy, well supported and thriving.

“The staff go above and beyond to help the children.”

And Susanna York wrote: “Academisation is not the answer for schools in more challenging circumstances.

“This school needs to be properly funded and supported not privatised.

“More demoralised teachers will no doubt now leave the profession.”

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “When we see issues of underperformance we will not hesitate to take swift action.

“Moulsecoomb Primary School was issued an academy order because it was rated inadequate by Ofsted – our priority is, and always should be, the wellbeing, safeguarding and education of pupils.

“We have seen many sponsored academies dramatically improve their Ofsted results following conversion and converter academies are performing well above the national average.”

“It is misleading and wrong to suggest that academies are private companies.

“Academies are publicly funded schools, run by a not-for-profit charitable trust, commonly sponsored by universities, other schools, faith or voluntary groups.”

About 8,000 schools have become academies since 2010.

The Government says this has raised standards for thousands of pupils.

To view the petition, visit change.org/p/no-to-the-forced-academisation-of-moulsecoomb-primary-school