ANGRY parents have launched a desperate legal bid to prevent the takeover of a school by a company.

A solicitor hired by a parents’ group has sent a letter to East Sussex County Council threatening legal action if it proceeds with academy plans for Peacehaven Community School.

Parents were informed by Swale Academy Trust, which is aiming to control the school, that it could become an academy as early as August 31.

But now the Hands Off Peacehaven Community School group has said it will ask for a review of the decision by judges unless the school consults parents.

Parent Ashvini Webster said: “I’m pleased Leigh Day solicitors has taken up our case to help us fight for the future of our school.

“The county council and the interim executive board are not answering any of our questions and are hiding behind a very weak, out-of-date consultation.

“We simply want the right to make our own decision about our own community school.”

Swale trust has partially controlled the school since 2015 and the county council plans to hand over full control in a matter of months.

But parents say the secondary school’s “good” Ofsted rating, achieved last year, means there is no reason to pursue the academy takeover.

They claim a 2016 statement by the county council said Swale’s Interim Executive Board, which governs the school, would remain in place “until the school makes significant progress”.

Now parents and the National Education Union (NEU) want an elected board to run the school.

Spokesman Jack Tyler said: “Staff at the school have not been informed of the proposed transfer date of the 31st of August.

“It appears ESCC are attempting to push through the transfer during the summer holidays to avoid further opposition from parents and staff in the autumn term.

“We believe any such transfer would be open to legal challenge as there has been significant staff turnover since the 2017 consultation.”

But a spokesman for East Sussex County Council said Swale had been “instrumental” in the school’s progress.

He said: “A full consultation was completed in 2017, during which the school reported to the council there was support from parents for the continued involvement of the trust.

The legal challenge marks another milestone in the struggle between staff and the county council over the school’s future.

Teachers went on strike for seven days in June and July against academy plans.

Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Lewes MP Maria Caulfield sent a letter to county council leader Keith Glazier.