Teaching unions have expressed serious concerns about a new academy group involving three Enfield schools.

Governors at Hazelbury Primary School and the Bowes Learning Alliance – which runs Bowes and Chesterfield primary schools – want to come together to form a new trust by September 1, with the schools being run by one body.

However, Enfield NUT say this is a huge change from plans originally consulted with parents over, as the trust had originally planned to include five schools, but two of them – Lavender and Brimsdown primaries – pulled out in recent weeks.

The union is now calling on the schools to rethink their plans, which they say are “undemocratic and flawed”.

Stuart McNamara, Secretary of Enfield NUT said “Now that two of the five schools have pulled out, the plan seems to literally change week by week.

“None of these further developments were consulted upon so stakeholders have had no chance to comment on what is essentially a totally different plan to the one consulted upon just two months ago.”

Mr McNamara also says the NUT believes the views of parents and of staff have been misrepresented, and in a survey of 55 members of staff, 51 of them were not in favour of the schools becoming a Multi Academy Trust.

His claims were backed up by another major union, with Paul Bishop, secretary of Enfield UNISON, saying multi academy trusts create a greater risk to the local education authorities.

He said “The most important thing is the learning for pupils in Enfield. This dash for academisation puts their learning at risk. At this time of financial uncertainty, it must be sensible to put the brakes on for a while.”

John West, vice chairman of the Bowes Learning Alliance, said they still intend to go ahead with plans and assured parents they have been properly thought through.

He said: “We have looked very carefully at our future budgets and at the difficulties that Enfield and other local authorities are facing in relation to financial cutbacks and reductions in services.

“The two governing bodies have come to the unanimous conclusion that the best future for all our schools is within a Multi Academy Trust.  

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and governors at the Bowes Learning Alliance and Hazelbury Primary School have carried out thorough consultations with parents and staff.  

“The proposal is intended to provide the best possible education for pupils and a stable, secure future for staff and local families.  We intend to continue to work closely with Enfield local authority where possible to provide for children in the borough, including some of the most vulnerable.

“Parents and staff at our schools can be confident that we will continue with the inclusive ethos and innovative curriculum that we have become well known for.”