LAST-DITCH talks between a school's management and a union are to be held in an attempt to resolve a planned two-day strike by teachers this week.

National Union of Teachers (NUT) members at Connaught School for Girls in Leytonstone are due to hold the walk-out on Wednesday and Thursday (November 7 and 8) in protest at its bid to become an academy.

Governors agreed to the plans at a meeting last month but the union wants a fresh vote because it says the result was close and some governors did not attend.

The NUT has already held two one-day strikes this term which prompted the school to shut down for the day.

Connaught management and union representatives will meet with independent conciliatory body Acas on Tuesday (November 6) in an attempt to resolve the crisis.

The row has divided parents and also caused friction with Waltham Forest Council.

The authority accused the school of issuing "inaccurate and misleading" information to parents about the implications of academy status.

But headteacher Ann Betts hit back and said the council was not being truthful.

Steve White, secretary of Waltham Forest NUT, said there could be more strike action unless the dispute was resolved.

He said: "It depends what our members at the school want, but I think it is likely they would strike again.

"We have to show the governors the strength of feeling about this."

Academy status will allow the school to break away from council control, giving it greater independence and receiving all its funding direct from the government.

Ms Betts told the Guardian the change in status would probably be introduced in January or February 2013 if all went to plan.

She said governors were concerned that the council was planning on merging Connaught with another school and they felt becoming an academy was the only way to safeguard its future.

Ms Betts also says the school will be £97,000 better off financially.

The council says there are no merger plans and academy status will not lead to the school getting any extra funding.

Meanwhile a group of parents have said they will submit a formal complaint about the school's handling of the issue, claiming the consultation was rushed.

Anti-academy campaigners are to hold a meeting to discuss the Connaught crisis on Tuesday November 6 at George Mitchell school in Farmer Road Leyton, at 7pm.