BISHOPS Bluecoat High School’s bid to become an academy looks set to be a success.

The consultation is now complete and governors at the Great Boughton school are reviewing submissions and comments before making a decision.

Headteacher Justin Blakebrough said: “The results of the consultation for parents, the wider community and staff currently remain overwhelmingly in favour of applying for academy status – so far there is only one person against the proposal.

“The governors will look at the responses in detail before making their final decision.

“Although I can’t pre-judge the outcome of their discussions, I would have thought it very likely that they will decide to apply.”

However, a spokesman for the Cheshire West Anti Academies Campaign accused the school of rushing through the consultation process.

He said: “Letters were sent out at the very end of last term and the consultation meetings with parents were arranged for the first and second days back after the Christmas holiday - hardly a serious attempt at consultation.

“I am also very concerned that when responding to the school's proposals via the specially set-up website, parents have to give their child’s name.

“The attitude seems to be that if you oppose the idea, you are selfishly denying these pupils a decent education for narrow political reasons.”