WALTHAM Forest Council insist a controversial plan to take two schools out of local authority control will go ahead despite a governing body’s decision not to approve the plan.

A board meeting at George Mitchell All-Through School saw governors ask for more information on the council-backed plan and defer a decision to accept trust status.

Under a scheme backed by the authority, George Mitchell All-Through School and Norlington School for Boys were set to be controlled by a school trust, headed by the Institute of Education.

Union members, campaigners and some parents have been strongly opposed to the move, insisting it will remove local accountability and not benefit pupils.

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have staged three strikes at Norlington in protest.

The decision by George Mitchell governors raised hopes that the plan may yet be ditched.

But a spokesman for the authority said concerns will be answered within days and trust status will be established in January as planned.

The trust's constitution was approved by Norlington's governing body last week, despite a last-ditched attempt by the NUT to persuade governors to block it.

Helen Jeffery, head of George Mitchell, has said there are 'a small number of issues' that need addressing including questions about the location of a new school and finance.

The plan to incorporate the trust schools on a new leisure complex on part of Leyton Sports Ground, off High Road, has also prompted anger.

Campaigners fear a loss of valuable green space will have a detrimental effect on the local community.

The council spokesman said: “The governing bodies of George Mitchell and Norlington formally agreed last May that their schools should become trust schools under a trust with the Institute of Education as a partner.

“The trust's constitution needs to be agreed by both governing bodies before the trust is implemented. Norlington's governing body approved the documents at its meeting on November 18.

“The executive director of children services answered questions from governors from George Mitchell school, but some required more detailed answers.

“The governing body deferred a decision until these had been received.”