Three more trade unions have joined Unison to campaign against proposals for a city academy.

Public sector union Unison announced its opposition to plans for a city academy at Falmer High School in Brighton almost two weeks ago.

Brighton and Hove City Council announced on October 14 it was considering creating a city academy at the school in Lewes Road to improve standards and facilities. Sussex businessman Jon Aisbitt has agreed to stump up the £2 million necessary for the bid and, if approved , the Government would invest up to £25 million.

The school would be run by an independent trust outside the authority of the city council and would not have to follow the national curriculum.

Now the GMB, National Association of Schoolmasters, Union of Women Teachers and the National Union of Teachers have backed Unison saying that the move would amount to privatisation.

Unison branch secretary Alex Knutsen said local children could lose out under a city academy programme as it could select only the brightest students. He said staff could lose certain terms and conditions in their employment contracts.

Mr Knutsen said: "If the council has under-invested in the school for many years, it is now time to readdress the balance, build upon improving results and make Falmer an example of how a public service can be made an attractive option for parents across the city."

"We do not need another Comart brought about by an experiment in education."

Three years ago, a mystery investor agreed to put up £2 million to transform Comart in Wilson Avenue into a city academy. Unfortunately, the bidder pulled out and, despite the school receiving millions of pounds of investment from a private finance initiative, it failed to improve sufficiently and was closed in July.

Director of children, families and schools David Hawker said the school would not be academically selective and would remain a school for the Moulsecoomb community.