GREAT Sankey High School will not automatically give places to children at primary schools that are part of its own academy trust.

Parents of pupils at St Philip's Primary School, which is not currently planning to join the trust, said the plans would 'seriously disadvantage' their children

The Omega Trust, which runs Great Sankey High, launched a public consultation into plans to team up with Barrow Hall, Burtonwood, Callands, Chapelford, Park Road and Westbrook Old Hall primary schools in December.

They also announced plans to increase the number of pupils accepted into year seven and give priority places to children at primary schools that join the trust.

Parents of youngsters at St Philip's Primary School were furious with the plans as the majority of pupils go on to study at Great Sankey High.

And councillors and the Diocese of Liverpool suggested they would appeal to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator if the 'unfair' new admissions policy was not scrapped.

The u-turn was announced after governors met to discuss responses to the consultation and decided not to name feeder primary schools.

In a statement, a spokesman for Great Sankey High said: "Great Sankey wants to be in a position to support all parents and children who want to come to our school. We would like to do this with good grace and not to the detriment of others.

"We continue to recognise a duty to our immediate community."

The governing body approved plans to increase the number of pupils accepted into each year group from 315 to 375 from September 2018.

And the school will proceed with plans to team up with six primary schools.

But it highlighted the need for a long term plan to tackle the shortage of high school places.

Executive head teacher Jon Wright said: “I am pleased for all parties to have more time to consider their plans for the future.

"We remain committed to the Omega MAT and its vision for education, whilst wanting to find a longer-term solution to the shortage of secondary school places in west Warrington and get the best for all the people in our community.”

Cllr Rebecca Knowles (LAB - Chapelford and Old Hall) said: "It is heartening to see that the governors of Great Sankey High School were genuine about their intention to run a fair and open consultation and that having received feedback from parents, councillors, the Diocese of Liverpool, the wider community and Warrington Borough Council within their process, they have really listened to everyone's concerns.

"Many parents took the trouble to send thoughtful, articulate and detailed responses to the school and to attend the two public meetings.

"Forty-seven residents also emailed the Chapelford and Old Hall ward councillors to share their views with us.  I hope they feel that we have supported them; we are all very pleased with this outcome."

Andrew Bent, chair of governors said: “This was a genuine consultation, and we thank everyone for taking the time to respond to it.

"We have listened and taken on board all views and responded accordingly.

"We should all now work together in the best interests of all the young people in our community.”