THREE York schools are looking to band together to become the city's first primary and secondary academy trust.

The move would see the trio of South Bank schools, Millthorpe, Knavesmire and Scarcroft work together to share expertise in a move that will remove them from local authority control.

Millthorpe's head teacher, Trevor Burton, said: “There are difficult times ahead for schools: having partners to work with would help us focus strongly on providing the best possible education in South Bank from age three to age 16. Partnership working is the key to our future and Scarcroft and Knavesmire would be ideal partners for Millthorpe.”

Mr Burton said that running as an academies trust would help head teachers support each other, something that is becoming increasingly difficult through the local authority as funding cuts bite.

Knavesmire Primary School's head teacher Adam Cooper said the new deal would help the primary schools draw of subject expertise from Millthorpe's secondary teachers.

Scarcroft Primary School's head teacher, Anna Cornhill, said: “Scarcroft has worked in partnership with other schools for some time, but we feel a closer link with schools in our community could help us provide better education while dealing with the future reduction in funding from central government.”

The schools have already been in talks with education bosses at the council, and Jon Stonehouse, director of children’s services, education and skills at City of York Council, said: “Our aim is ensure that children in York have the best possible education and we will continue to work in partnership with schools across the city, whatever their status, to achieve this.”

The schools have not ruled out using the academy trust as a way of building new schools in Southbank, where pressure on primary school places in increasingly tight.

Mr Burton said: "It's only right and proper that City of York Council decides where to put new schools, but we do know there is going to be rising pressure in South Bank and we would be very happy to work with the council to maintain high standards of education in the area."

Head teachers of all three schools have written to parents explaining the plans. All three governing bodies have approved the application for funding needed to start the process, and formal public consultations are set to start after the General Election.