PARENTS have voted overwhelmingly against plans to turn a school into an academy.

A ballot of parents of pupils at Moulsecoomb Primary School in Brighton revealed that 96 per cent of parents are against the plans.

Organised by Brighton and Hove City Council, the vote asked: “Do you want the school to become an academy?”

Of the 142 parents who took part in the ballot, 137 voted “no”.

There was a turnout of 61 per cent.

The academisation plans follow the school in The Highway being branded “inadequate” by Ofsted in May.

But parents and teachers argue turning it into an academy will not solve the issues.

Councillor Kate Knight, who is vice chairwoman of the council’s children, young people and skills committee, said: “It’s extremely positive and heartening that Moulsecoomb Primary’s parents and carers have expressed such strong support for the school’s current staff and management.

“We’ve said time and again that the school is making good progress under its current leadership.

“Surely now the Government must recognise that there is no longer any basis for labelling the school as inadequate. It’s clear that converting the school to an academy is unnecessary and would be highly disruptive to pupils at the school.

“Worse, I believe parents and carers will see the academy plan as a cynical ploy to take the credit for the improvements at the school away from its hard-working staff.”

She said the council will opposed any forced academisation plans.

Last week, officials from Step Academy Trust pulled out of the selection process to take over the school after facing angry campaigners at the school gates.

Green Councillor Sarah Nield, who is the party’s lead on schools, said: “The result of the vote sends a strong message to the Regional Schools Commissioner: that local parents do not want academisation and firmly demand that the primary remain part of the city’s family of schools.

“Moulsecoomb Primary is a fantastic community school offering so much to its pupils and local area.

“What’s more, improvements in the school’s Sats results this year demonstrate that the commissioner’s grounds for academisation are unfounded.

“Greens have always fought against academisation and the profit-led privatisation of our local schools.

“We urge the Regional Schools Commissioner to listen to the overwhelming majority of parents at Moulsecoomb Primary – and revoke the academy order now.”