A UNION has blasted plans for six schools to become academies and set up their own trust.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has said there needs to be a ‘proper’ public consultation in the proposals.

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This week it was announced Colne Park High School, Blacko and Laneshaw Bridge primaries and Park, Lord Street and West Street primaries in Colne want to set up the Pennine Trust.

A consultation has been launched and meetings for parents are to be staged at each school.

Simon Jones, who represents the NUT in Lancashire, said: “We are very concerned as there seems to have been no consultation about this plan before it was announced.

“The consultation that is being held just seems like a rubber-stamping exercise.

“Lancashire County Council has a very good schools improvement service and there are no benefits for these schools to break away from that.

“There needs to be a proper public consultation and public meetings.”

Jo Sharples, who leads Laneshaw Bridge Primary, said school’s will benefit from each other’s strengths.

She said: “If my school excels in one department and another school doesn’t, they can learn from us.”