Haling Manor and Ashburton schools look set to become academies after Croydon Cabinet approved the proposals on Monday.

The decision forms part of a scheme which will see £350million invested in the borough’s schools over the next couple of years.

Ashburton Infant, Junior and Community schools will become an Oasis Academy and Haling Manor High School is earmarked to become part of the Harris Federation.

The schools are due to shut on August 31, with the two new academies opening on September 1 before the autumn term begins.

Closure notices will be issued for these schools marking a six-week consultation period where those opposed to the plans can still make representations to the council.

The plans will then be submitted to the Department for Children, Schools and Families for government approval.

The controversial proposals have faced a lot of opposition from local residents and the Save Our Schools (SOS) campaign who are do not want academies in Croydon and insist that the public consultation was not carried out properly.

The campaigners have set up a petition on the 10 Downing Street website calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to “ask the Secretary of State at the DCSF to delay signing funding agreements with the Harris Federation and Oasis until a review of Croydon Council's tactics in circumventing opposition to their plans have been investigated”.

So far there are 61 signatures on the petition.

Shasha Khan, from the campaign said: “We are trying to collect 500 signatures for the Prime Minister to have a look at the consultation process.”

“I am concerned about possible disruption next year.

"When the morale is low and teachers, parents and students are not behind what is happening that can be disruptive in their final and GCSE years.”

The governing bodies of the Ashburton schools have been very outspoken in their opposition to the plans alongside the SOS campaign.

However Pooky Hesmondhalgh, the chair of governors at Ashburton Infants School, said they had changed their stance and decided to work with Oasis Academies.

She said: “We were a bit concerned that as a governing body we were doing more harm than good by continuing to oppose the decision.

“It’s very important that all our parents are 100 per cent on board with what is happening and have a say about what the school looks like come September.

“We are being as positive about it as possible.”

Councillor Tim Pollard cabinet member for schools and learning, said he was very pleased that the proposals had been approved.

“I think its a very positive step towards our objective of improving the standard of education for all of our students.”

He thought it was “delightfully ironic” that SOS had started a petition on the Downing Street website considering academies are a Labour policy.

He said: “SOS are opposed to the ideology of academies full stop and I believe they are entitled to their opinion.

“I am interested in practical ways to make our schools better and improve the standard of education in our borough.”

Oasis have also just announced the appointment of Glen Denham as principal designate of the Ashburton schools.

A spokesman said: “The appointment of Mr Denham, who is currently the serving deputy head teacher at Woolwich Polytechnic School, marks a significant step on the way towards the establishment of the new academy.”

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