A TEACHERS’ union is threatening industrial action if a council refuses to drop plans to turn a community school into an academy.

The threat came on the eve of a meeting today, at which Durham County Council is expected to back plans to replace Belmont and Gilesgate schools with an academy cosponsored by a Durham Universityled consortium.

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, the country’s largest teachers’ union, said: “Staff, governors and parents at Belmont are united in their opposition to the school becoming an academy.

“Indeed, the teachers have overwhelmingly endorsed a call for industrial action.

“These plans would remove a good school from the local community of schools and undermine local democracy and accountability.

“The county councillors are representatives of local people and should therefore listen to those who responded to the consultation.

“If the consultation is meaningful, then a proposal that has no local support whatsoever should be rejected.”

Academies could also be built in Consett and Stanley, with up to four secondary schools axed. No sites have been agreed but the academies could open as early as September 2012.

David Williams, the council’s corporate director for children and young people’s services, said the proposals for Durham City would build on the strengths of the existing schools and they were in the best interests of young people.

He said an academy would benefit young people, whereas industrial action could harm their education.

Mr Williams said it was “inevitable”

staff may feel uncertain during a reorganisation but said the strike threat was “disappointing”.

If the proposals went ahead, the council would want to work with staff and unions and find a way forward which was in the best interests of students, he added.

Mr Williams pointed to the expected removal of Tanfield School from the Stanley academy plan as evidence the authority had listened during consultation, but added it has to consider the “wider and longer-term implications” on behalf of all children and young people.

The council’s cabinet is expected to back the academies scheme at a meeting to be held this morning.