A PUBLIC consultation into whether Pleckgate High School in Blackburn should become an academy is taking place until Friday, July 3.

The decision to seek the change was announced just weeks after the school came out of special measures for the first time since last February.

The proposal for the Pleckgate Road school, which has almost 1,200 pupils, to sever ties with the local education authority has received support from Nicky Morgan, the secretary of state for education.

It would be sponsored by the Blackburn-based Education Partnership Trust, which already has The Heights Free School and Eden School in the town.

A formal consultation event is also due to be held at the school on Tuesday, June 16, from 7pm to 8pm to provide information about the school's reasons for converting to an academy and answer questions from parents.

To take part in the consultation or for more information visit: www.pleckgatewebsite.co.uk