Parent power has pushed back plans to convert Sheffield鈥檚 last local authority-maintained secondary into an academy, but sparked inequality concerns over schools without such well-educated parents. Yorkshire and Humber regional director Alison Wilson has deferred a decision for the Brigantia Learning Trust to take over King Edward VII School (KES). Education chiefs wanted the chain to take over KES 鈥 which calls itself one of the 鈥渕ost prestigious鈥 secondaries in the city 鈥 following its 鈥榠nadequate鈥 in September. But the proposal was only spotted when education professor Mark Boylan, whose daughter Sophia attends the school, stumbled upon an online copy of the regional advisory board meeting’s agenda a week before it took place. Parents who challenged the decision said this left them with just three days to make their views known. They also claimed KES was not made aware until this point. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not right that parents who鈥檝e got the resources of various types 鈥 among us are journalists, campaigners and lawyers 鈥 got the decision deferred,鈥 Boylan said. 鈥淲hereas parents in other places may be none the wiser, and not even know there鈥檚 an agenda or that they can make a representation. There鈥檚 inequity to the decision-making process.鈥 Wilson decided to push the decision back to June or July 鈥渢o allow further analysis to be carried out, comparing a number of suitable multi-academy trusts, including Brigantia鈥. KES headteacher Linda Godden stated in a letter the regional director had 鈥渓ooked at all the communications she received from the school, parents, carers and external parties鈥 ahead of the meeting. General ‘lack of transparency’ around academisation Two of Brigantia鈥檚 five schools are classed as 鈥coasting鈥, as they received two less-than-good Ofsteds in a row. The government gave itself powers last year to move primaries and secondaries struggling to move out of ‘requires improvement’ into alternative trusts 鈥 but opponents claimed KES鈥檚 proposed move flew in the face of the crackdown. 鈥淚f you are voluntarily academised, parents get consulted, but as soon as it鈥檚 forced academisation, they鈥檙e not,鈥 Boylan added. 鈥淏eyond this particular example, there鈥檚 a general issue with the lack of transparency, lack of involvement of schools 鈥 it鈥檚 just rubbish.鈥 A Brigantia spokesperson said 鈥渃larification鈥 of what was discussed at the advisory board meeting 鈥渨ill be communicated as and when we are able to share this information鈥. The Department for Education stressed KES 鈥渁s with any school that receives an overall judgement of ‘inadequate’, will become an academy and be transferred to a strong trust鈥. A spokesperson added further analysis will 鈥渆nsure the school is transferred to the most appropriate trust with a strong track record of ensuring pupils receive the highest standard of education 鈥 while retaining its historic ethos.鈥 The spokesperson did not respond when asked why analysis was not done prior to the meeting.