PLANS to create a new multi-academy trust in Pendle have moved a step closer.

Six schools are involved in setting up the Pennine Trust which means they will no longer be run by Lancashire County Council.

A consultation into the proposals to join Colne Park High School, Blacko Primary School and Laneshaw Bridge with Park, as well as Lord Street and West Street primaries has now finished with plans due to be submitted to the Department for Education.

Each school would keep their own headteacher, governing body, current names and uniforms.

Union bosses expressed fears that the schools may find it harder to weather the storm of the funding crisis after breaking with the council.

In a letter to parents, signed by the headteachers and chair of governors for each school they said the feedback from the consultation had been largely ‘positive’.

They have now made a formal application to the Department for Education, although the process may be delayed because of the general election.

Harry Devonport, chair of governors at Colne Park High has been nominated to be chair of the trust. He said meetings with parents have been very encouraging.

Mr Devonport said: “We are not home and dry until we have done all of the due diligence.

“At the moment it is looking positive and we are excited about it.

“The headteachers will be the same and the names of the schools. Uniforms will also stay the same which is important to parents.

“They want continuity.”

He said although parents will notice little change at first they will be working together to improve things in the schools.

“There will be changes that will improve outcomes. It will be about collaboration, looking at best practice and using that in other schools,” he said.

All the schools are judged to be ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Simon Jones, Lancashire representative for the National Union of Teachers, said they had not listened to important arguments put forward by the unions.

He said staying within the local education authority will be the best way to ‘weather the storm of this funding crisis that is on the horizon’.