SCHOOLS in fear of ‘losing out’ are being ‘forced’ into converting to academy status, a councillor has claimed.

Hilary Smith, the council's head of education, updated the scrutiny committee on the current position of conversions in the borough at the Town Hall on Wednesday.

Since September 2016, there have been a number of conversions to academy status, as well as changes relating to new multi-academy trusts (MATs) operating in the area.

The Challenge Academy Trust comprises Priestley College, Bridgewater High School, Penketh High School, Beamont Collegiate Academy, Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School, Great Sankey Primary School and Penketh South Primary School.

And the Omega Trust is made up of Great Sankey High School, Burtonwood Primary School, Chapelford Primary School, Park Road Primary School and Westbrook Old Hall Primary School, while Warrington Primary Academy Trust comprises Alderman Bolton Primary School, Beamont Primary School, Bruche Primary School, Evelyn Street Primary School and Penketh Primary School.

But a number of other sites have notified the council of their decision to 'explore' conversion to academy status or to convert, subject to agreement by the local head teacher board of the regional school commissioner.

Hollins Green St Helens Church of England Primary School and Glazebury Church of England Primary School have submitted applications to convert, which could see the pair form part of the Liverpool Diocesan Board of Education Trust from October this year.

Furthermore, Croft Primary School, Culcheth Primary School, Gorse Covert Primary School, Oakwood Avenue Primary School, Twiss Green Primary School and Woolston Primary School could form part of the Impact Multi Academy Trust – although no date for when the changes could be made has been confirmed.

Ms Smith said conversion to academy status could have an impact on the employment of staff, control of assets and financial arrangements, as well as ‘trading arrangements’ between council services and schools.

She added: "I think, in terms of the relationship we have with all of our schools, actually it is quite strong.

"I think we are managing the risks well, in terms of how we are working with our schools, and we are having regular conversations about how we continue to deliver quality and best value."

Committee member Cllr Ian Marks, a former council leader said, said he 'strongly opposes' MATs.

He added: "I do feel very strongly about this.

"I am concerned about the effect on council services. It is a risk.

"I know schools are just concerned everything is just being driven this way – even if they don't want to go, they are just being forced into it and that is what I think is awful about this.

"I take some comfort, from what you say, that some schools are adopting this 'wait and see' approach.

"It is like rolling down a slope.

"You feel like you have to do this, otherwise you are just going to lose out.

"They are not all they are cracked up to be and the bureaucracy involved, and the trustees, it is just absolutely awful.

"It is not what people like me became a school governor at a local primary school for."

Cllr Colin Froggatt, former portfolio holder for children and young people's services, added: "We have got to go with what is happening.

"This thing rolls on, so basically it is how we, as a council, manage it.

"I am pleased to see we still have good relationships with the schools."