GOVERNORS are standing by their decision to pull out of a plan to convert Whitby High School into a city academy.

Borough councillor Myles Hogg, who chairs the board, says he and fellow members will not consider backing the Government scheme until their concerns are addressed.

In a bid to resolve the issue, Cheshire County Council has held talks with Whitby after it opted to withdraw from the process last month.

But Cllr Hogg says governors are sticking to their decision and he does not expect any further discussions in the New Year.

The county plans to create two “super-schools” on the sites of Whitby and Ellesmere Port Specialist School of Performing Arts (EPSSPA), and close Cheshire Oaks High.

Cllr Hogg said: “The county council are attempting to address some of our concerns, but until the governing body is satisfied that they have been addressed beyond all reasonable doubt then I can’t see anything changing.”

The governors promised parents and staff they were only prepared to move ahead with the scheme if all pupils were able to finish their education on the Whitby site.

They also want assurances that teachers’ jobs will be safeguarded, the site would keep the name of Whitby and that sponsorship would be mixed, with no one financial backer taking control.

Last month anti-academy campaigners urged both Cheshire Oaks High and EPSSPA to follow Whitby’s lead and pull out of the scheme.

More than 40 parents turned up to a meeting organised by pressure group KeEPS (Keep Ellesmere Port’s Schools) at the civic hall to voice their opposition to the proposal.

However, when the Pioneer approached the two schools about their position, neither wished to comment.