Legal action move to fight Smethwick academy plan
A Smethwick school is taking legal action to stop the Government from turning it into an academy.
Governors at Galton Valley Primary School have revoked the decision to become an academy and have instructed solicitors to help them fight the plan
Parents, governors and staff say they do not want the school to be taken over by London-based Oasis Community Learning.
The Brasshouse Lane school was placed in special measures last February and told it must improve. In a bid to improve the school, government bosses want it to sign up to become an academy and have asked school governors to consider three sponsors.
Governors and community leaders said they were being put under pressure to sign up to the plan, and that the school will improve further without becoming an academy.
The school has now released a statement saying they have instructed solicitors to act on their behalf to fight the plan.
Earlier this month more than 200 people attended a public meeting to express their concerns and 400 people have signed a petition against the scheme. Dozens also attended a protest against it on Friday, calling on the government to consult with parents.
Karen Hampton, whose five-year-old son Jay attends the school said: "We were all disappointed with the original Ofsted report but everybody at the school has worked really hard to improve things."
