ANGER is mounting over the proposed schools academy on Portland.

Concerned parents are holding a public meeting about the proposed £50million Portland Academy amid claims that most people are in the dark over what the impact will be.

It comes as a feasibility study is being undertaken on the island, funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The DCSF has appointed the independent project management company EC Harris LLP to work on the academy proposal before a public consultation in June.

But unhappy parents on Portland fear that the proposed 0-plus academy would destroy the current primary school system, which is ‘at the heart of the community’ and ‘take away parents’ choice’.

Mum-of-three Lucy Hallett, of Easton, launched a group called Parents Against Portland Academy on the internet site Facebook, which now has almost 200 members.

She is also holding a public meeting on Tuesday, May 25 at 7pm at Easton Methodist Hall. Mrs Hallett, 31, said: “Two of my children go to St George’s Primary School and my youngest is just about to start nursery.

“I feel very strongly that we should protect our primary and pre-school on the island.”

Mum-of-three Sharon Pitman, of Easton, said: “We are not against an 11 to 21 academy but we are strongly against a 0-plus academy and all that it entails.

“All the primary schools offer our children excellent education, it’s the secondary school which has failings.

“I cannot see why the council and the proposers of the academy are trying to fix something that’s not broken.

“The money that has been wasted on the reports and studies for the academy could have been better spent on improving Royal Manor.”

Father-of-three Paul Hopkins, 29, of Easton, fears the new academy would create parking problems and the closure of schools would disrupt children.

He added that the ‘silly amount of money’ being invested could be better spent on existing schools.

Yet other parents on the island have thrown their support behind the proposed academy, which they say is an ‘unprecedented level of investment’ for Portland children.

Debbie Smith, of Wakeham, said the new system would still offer parents choice as there would ‘still be three 0-11 learning centres’ at Southwell, the Chesil Cove site at Osprey Quay and the Independent Quarry in Easton.

She said an academy where care and teaching would be available from birth to age 19 would ultimately remove the ‘transition period’, which unsettled some children as they progressed from primary to secondary schools.

Mrs Smith, 45, said: “I’m the chair of governors at Grove Infant School but my interest lies with the children.

“As a parent, I believe this is a wonderful opportunity for children on Portland.

“We’ve already got excellent teachers and support staff doing a fantastic job, but just think what they could do with a 21st century learning centre, facilities and environment.”

Mrs Smith warned that those attending the meeting on Tuesday might be ‘misinformed’ as the parents holding it had complained about ‘a lack of information’.

She added: “There’s a quiet majority of parents on Portland patiently waiting for the feasibility study to be completed, but the vocal minority are discouraging people from speaking out in case it causes bad feeling.”

Mum-of-two Georgina Bacon, 33, of Easton, said: “The academy is needed because the idea is it’s going to tailor-make education for our children. Each child is going to be looked at individually to ensure they get the best education.

“For me, I think that’s quite exciting. Professor Stephen Heppell is an incredible person to be involved with the project and Portland’s going to end up with a school system tailor-made for the 21st century.

“Everyone’s for it – except for St George’s school – all the other establishments are in favour and that’s a ringing endorsement because they’re the people working in education saying it’s a good thing.”

She added: “I can understand that people are panicking if they don’t feel they’ve been given enough information, but that information is out there.

“Once the feasibility study is completed everyone will be able to have their say at the public consultation.”

EC Harris consultants have carried out two visits to Portland schools and will also hold organised meetings with headteachers and different people to discuss the detail.

Headteacher of Easton-based St George’s Primary School, Trevor Jameson, said: “This school has always supported the idea of a secondary academy for 11 to 19-year-olds.

“We do not support the all-through academy, which would mean this school would join a 0-19 or 0-21 academy and this school would close.

“We’re against that – we don’t think that’s appropriate for younger children.

“Our preferred model would be a secondary academy supported by three autonomous primary schools – the Chesil Cove Federation, ourselves and Southwell.”

Mr Jameson added that the school’s governing body was now organising a ballot of parents ‘to reflect their wishes’.

A spokesman for EC Harris said they were unable to comment during the ‘Purdah’ timescales although they confirmed a public consultation would begin on June 14.

County councillor Toni Coombs, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “As far as the county council are concerned, we want to see the result of the feasibility study.

“We had agreed to be a co-sponsor to get it through the feasibility stage, but we need reassurance because we were told that funding would be guaranteed by the Labour government before the election.

“Obviously we want to see clarification from the new coalition government and what comes out of the feasibility study before we move forward.”

She added: “I’m aware of a growing level of concern in some areas as well as support in others.”