A primary school could be the second in the borough to be forced into becoming an academy — which has sparked an outcry from parents.

An action group has been set up to fight the Government plans revealed this week for Elton Community Primary School, in Alston Street, Bury.

The school was placed in special measures in May, after Ofsted inspectors said it was “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of educ-ation”.

The protest group, named Save Elton Primary School, has already launched campaigns on social media and a petition to be sent to Education Secretary Michael Gove.

The move comes as Radcliffe Primary School is set to become an academy on January 1, with Bury College expected to be the lead sponsor.

Elton Primary headteacher, Tony Emmott, said: “There is no convincing evidence to prove that enforced academy status is the right option for Elton Primary.

“As a self-improving school, we want to be given the opportunity to come out of special measures and retain our status as a community primary school.

“We value the overwhelmingly positive support from our parents who know our school extremely well.”

Academies were initially set up in 2000, and are independently-run schools which are aimed to improve standards by replacing failing schools.

They have more independence as they are not under the control of the local authority, and are not obliged to follow the national curriculum, and can change the length of the school term and day.

A statement from Save Elton Primary School group reads: “We are extremely concerned that the conversion would have detrimental effects on the children’s education.

“We want the voice of the parents to be respected and to retain our democratic right to have a say in the running of the school and for the school to remain part of the local community, offering a fully inclusive education service and we are fighting to ensure that the parents’ voices are heard, understood and respected.

“We do not believe that there is evidence that forcing the school to become an academy will raise standards any further and that the school should be run by educators and not through a private sponsor.

“We believe that the leadership of the school has stepped up to the challenges and that significant improvements have been made and continue to be made, with the predicted grades for Key Stage Two for the next academic year expected to be the best results in the school’s history.”

Bury Council leaders are also opposed to the academy proposal, backing protests from parents and staff at the school, but say they will enter into discussions with the Department for Education about a potential sponsor.

Cllr Gill Campbell, cabinet member for children and families, said: “The local authority immediately came in to support Elton Primary School once it was placed in special measures, and it is clear from Ofsted’s latest letter than these plans are starting to have an effect.

“The council’s position on this is clear. We are strongly against any of our schools being forced to become academies against their wishes.

“We would wish Elton Primary to be given time to make the necessary improvements.

“Unfortunately, the Government’s position is even more clear. Their policy is that schools rated inadequate should become a sponsored academy, regardless of the strength of local opposition.

“The local authority does not have the power to stop the academy process. Our job, therefore, is to work to get the best outcome we can for the children and staff in the circumstances.”

Parent Lisa Weaver, whose daughter Kalista is in Year One, said: “They are forcing this through and we do not want this to happen.

A meeting was due to take place at the school last night for parents and governors to discuss the situation.