TEACHERS have voted to strike next month against plans to convert a school into an academy.

Members of the National Education Union at Moulsecoomb Primary School will take strike action on November 21 against Government-backed academy plans.

In April an academy order was placed on the school after it was given the lowest possible rating by Ofsted.

But teacher Calvin Cumiskey said staff were “united in opposition” against the plans to put control of the school into the hands of Lancing-based New Horizons Academy Trust.

“We know that strike action will create difficulties for some parents, and this has always been the last resort for us,” he said.

“Now that an academy trust has been selected to take over the school, we feel we have no choice but to use strike action.”

National Education Union Brighton and Hove secretary Paul Shellard said staff would call off the strike “immediately” if New Horizons withdrew from the process.

“The academy model is completely unsustainable,” he said.

“The chairman of New Horizons’ board of trustees is a headteacher of a school rated as inadequate by Ofsted almost a year ago.

“How can this trust provide better support to Moulsecoomb than Brighton & Hove City Council, which oversees 52 good or outstanding schools?”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We are striving for a world class education for all children regardless of background, and when we see issues of underperformance we will not hesitate to take swift action.

"Moulsecoomb Primary School was rated inadequate by Ofsted, so we have taken action to rebroker the academy to a strong academy trust, New Horizons who will be able to deliver the necessary improvements needed."