Saint Cecilia’s School is to share its headteacher with a school in Greenwich, it has been revealed.

Parents were not consulted, and Wandsworth Council were only informed late in the planning stages, the children and young people’s services overview and scrutiny committee were told.

Blackheath Bluecoat School, which has “modest” exam results and a falling roll, aims to improve itself via a “soft federation” with the successful Wandsworth school.

Although there may be benefits to Saint Cecilia’s, such as staff retention and a small financial saving, council officers warn it could threaten the new school’s development.

“This isn’t a federation that I would be personally promoting,” said Paul Robinson, director of children’s services. “But at the point we have got to, we would take the view that it would be counterproductive to obstruct it.”

The idea was suggested by the Diocese of Southwark in the autumn, but the council was not informed until December, when most details had already been arranged.

The plan is for Mr Risbridger to become the executive headteacher of both schools, spending two and a half days a week in each.

Associate headteachers, to be appointed in September, will be responsible for the day-to-day running of each school, but until then interim arrangements will be made.

Council officers also voiced concerns over the distance between the two schools, and recommended a series of safeguards.