MP ANDREW GEORGE has hit out at Cornwall Council's "indecent haste" in replacing the head teacher of St Ives School with its own troubleshooter after a damning Ofsted report.
When inspectors placed the school in special measures Cornwall Council's director of children's services, Trevor Doughty, parachuted in a new head.
St Ives MP Mr George has now attacked the council's "very hasty response" that showed "disrespect to the school, its pupils and staff".
It has also emerged that chairman of governors Dave Griffin, who co-signed the letter announcing new head Richard Schofield's appointment, has since stood down.
It is understood he resigned because he had lost confidence in Cornwall Council's handling of the situation, although Mr Griffin has said he couldn't comment at this point.
Now some parents fear the 700-pupil school is being pushed into controversial academy status – where schools are taken out of local authority control and given a business "sponsor".
Schools usually become academies after a decision by governors and parents.
But the Department for Education (DfE) told The Cornishman there is a "clear expectation" that in cases where Ofsted says a school needs special measures, becoming an academy is "the normal route to secure improvement".
That leaves the school's governors with little choice.
Parent Rowenna Swallow said: "The governors are a well-intentioned, hardworking group of people.
"But a big group of parents still has not got a clue what is going on.
"The acting head has told us we will be an academy by Easter."
The school insists it has not made a decision about academy status.
Acting chair of governors Steve Burgess said: "The most important thing is what we have done as a team to address the main points in the report – around learning in the classroom for our pupils and the experience and ambition and achievement for our pupils.
"That's what is in our immediate sights and we're doing something about it. Richard Schofield is doing a fantastic job for us."
However, he said it was "highly likely, even highly probable" that academy status was coming.
A Government 'academy broker' was due to visit the school on Wednesday as The Cornishman went to print.
Mr George, who opposed the Academies Bill in Parliament, said: "It takes local schools out of local authority control. It is quasi-privatisation of our schools.
"But I'd be committing a cruel hoax on the parents and dedicated staff, who have been ill-served by this process, if I gave a false impression that there was some way of avoiding academy status."
Andrew Wallis, the council's Cabinet member for children and young people, said he recognised parents' concerns but rejected Mr George's criticisms.
He said: "I am extremely disappointed. We have a legal duty to ensure that all local authority maintained schools are providing a good quality education to their pupils.
"Faced with [the report's] findings both the governing body and the council agreed that an interim executive head teacher should be appointed to work with staff and governors to help the school to move forward. Far from being disrespectful, the authority has acted entirely appropriately to ensure the issues are addressed as quickly as possible."