DELAYED plans to convert a Blackburn school into an academy can go ahead.

In April, Blackburn with Darwen Council executive board members voted to defer a decision on whether to approve proposals to convert Blackburn Central High School into an academy run by the Champion Education Trust.

Members heard concerns had been raised about the legality of the school’s governing body.

Former council governor services manager, Sean Rogers, had said there were deficiencies in the consultation and issues around the governance of Blackburn Central High School.

Mr Rogers said the school’s governing body was illegal because just five of the 12 governors had been appointed by the East Blackburn Community Learning Trust, when government guidance says a majority must be trust-appointed.

But executive member for children’s services and education, Cllr Maureen Bateson, said the council had now received written confirmation from the Department for Education that the governing body was legally constituted at the point the school applied to become an academy.

Therefore, the application and academy order is valid and Cllr Bateson said that meant the council had no option but to take steps in order to complete the conversion process.

Members also approved the transfer the council’s freehold on the land to the Champion Education Trust.

Cllr Bateson said: “We have written assurances from the Department for Education that they are satisfied that the governing body was legally constituted at the time the school applied to become an academy.”

Leader of the Conservative group, Cllr John Slater, added: “I have concerns this may be being rushed through without due diligence.”

Converting to an academy will free the school from local authority control and leave only Blackburn's St Bede’s RC High School and Our Lady and St John Catholic Arts College under council control.

It will allow the school to take charge of finances and admissions, give more freedom over the curriculum.