PARENTS from three York schools hoping to become an academy trust have called for a vote on the plans.

More than 100 parents are expected to attend a public meeting on Thursday to discuss proposals to unite South Bank schools Millthorpe secondary and two of its feeder primaries, Scarcroft and Knavesmire, in an academy trust – opting out of local authority control.

Scarcroft parent Jonny Crawshaw, who lives just off Scarcroft Road, and has a daughter at the school and a son who is a prospective pupil there, said that the aim of the meeting was to give parents an independent forum to be able to openly discuss their views.

He said: “We are not taking a position at the moment.

“We have invited a range of people to speak at the meeting, including parent representatives from each school, union representatives and the anti-academy alliance.

“Because of the General Election the schools themselves are not allowed to speak, but there will be plenty of time for that as the process evolves.

“We feel we need to be involved in a meaningful way and we want to have a ballot of all the parents.

“We are calling for the Local Education Authority to run a ballot and involve parents from all of Millthorpe’s feeder primary schools.”

The meeting will be held on Thursday at 7.15pm at the Priory Street Centre and is expected to last about 90 minutes.

Knavesmire head Adam Cooper said he is hoping to attend, but, because of restrictions related to the election, none of the head teachers of the schools involved is able to speak at an organised meeting.

The formal consultation on the proposals begins on May 8 and runs for six weeks after that.

Other schools in York which have already become academies include Archbishop Holgate CE Secondary, Manor CE Secondary and Poppleton Ousebank Primary, along with Haxby Road and Robert Wilkinson primaries.

A spokesman for Scarcroft School said head teacher Anna Cornhill had encouraged parents to come to the school’s own formal consultation meetings.

Millthorpe head teacher, Trevor Burton, said: “The decision about whether to convert to an academy is not easy.

“Half of Millthorpe governors have, or have had children at Millthorpe, so they understand parents’ perspectives.

“They will be consulting widely over a six-week period after the General Election, before weighing the arguments for and against in their decision.

“Parents, staff, pupils, prospective parents, the local authority and trades unions will all have opportunities to put their thoughts to governors.”

Jon Stonehouse, director of education at City of York Council, said: “We are aware that three schools have agreed to explore the possibility of becoming a multi-academy trust.

“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.”