UNION chiefs are fuming as school governors were replaced months after they voted against academy plans.

Governors of Peacehaven Heights Primary School resigned en masse after hearing of East Sussex County Council’s plans to replace them, The Argus understands.

Two who remained were replaced by governors chosen by the council.

A letter sent to parents and staff announced the primary school would now be governed by an unelected Interim Executive Board (IEB)

Jonathan Taylor, chairman of the board, wrote in it that he would “actively consider an academy solution” for the school, as per Government guidelines.

This came just months after governors at Peacehaven Heights rejected council plans to hand over the school to a company.

GMB union organiser Lib Whitfield branded the “underhanded” move “outrageous”.

“East Sussex County Council have been absolutely determined from the outset to ensure they pass the buck on their responsibilities and force the school to academise,” she said.

“Children and parents will be heartbroken at this latest news of such a detrimental step back for the school. Those at East Sussex have abused their positions of power to further their own academy agenda.”

Ms Whitfield claimed academies had failed across the country.

Though not confirming if strike action would take place at the school, she said GMB members would “never stop fighting” against any proposed academy plans.

“If you want a fight, then the GMB and some very angry parents will oblige,” she said.

“East Sussex Council and especially Jonathan Taylor should understand it’s what we do and we do it very well.”

Phil Clarke, secretary of the Lewes, Eastbourne, and Wealden branch of the National Education Union, said the county council’s move “defies belief”.

“What we have here is the council exacting revenge on a governing body that dared to stand up to them,” he said. “A coalition of parents and staff beat them before at the Peacehaven Primary Schools and we shall do so again.”

A county council spokesman said the IEB was put into place following “concerns” about pupil progress.

He said: “The IEB will take over the roles and responsibilities of the governing body and work with the school leadership team to secure rapid improvement in standards.

“It will remain in place until the school is making the necessary progress. The Department for Education has said it expects it to actively consider a sponsored academy solution to safeguard the long-term future of the school.”