FURIOUS parents blocked a primary school’s gates as an academy trust came to visit.

Anti-academy campaigners stood outside Moulsecoomb Primary School’s car park on Wednesday as officials from the Step Academy Trust came to visit.

An academy order was placed on the school by the Government in June after it was rated “inadequate” by Ofsted.

Now the Department for Education is looking for academy trusts to take over the school from Brighton and Hove City Council, which is opposed to the move.

Former council education chief Nick Childs said on Twitter the trust was “not welcome” at the school.

Parent Ulrike Hofmann, 41, said the academy officials seemed “amused” when they were greeted at the gates.

She said: “They certainly left the building with a clearer picture and message of our efforts and the passionate fight parents will put up for their kids education and school.

“The school has improved massively since the Ofsted inspection in April. We want to keep it that way.”

Ms Hofmann added parents would use “all legal means available” to fight the academy plans.

If an academy trust takes over the school, it will have full control over its curriculum and who works there.

Fellow parent Natasha Ide said Ofsted was “wrong” about the school and demanded inspectors come to the school again.

She said: “Moulsecoomb has improved massively since the Ofsted inspection in April.

“I went there when I was a child and all of my children have gone there too.

“Ofsted is wrong about our school and we want them to reinspect before they force our lovely school to become an academy.”

Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said the “academy folks” were “visibility rattled” as they left the school.

A spokeswoman for Step Academy Trust said: “On Wednesday, as part of the process for identifying an academy sponsor for Moulsecoomb Primary, representatives from Step Academy Trust visited the school.”

Brighton and Hove City Council is now asking parents to vote on whether the school should become an academy.

Cllr Kate Knight said: “I am full of admiration for the determination and passion the parents and carers of Moulsecoomb Primary have poured into this campaign.”