Parents whose children attend the Deal schools earmarked for academisation have called a public meeting tonight.

Executive head teacher Jo Hygate is leading the proposal to form a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) incorporating Deal Parochial, Hornbeam, Kingsdown & Ringwould, Northbourne, Sandown, Sholden and The Downs primary schools.

But many parents are concerned it could jeopardise educational standards, draw money away from frontline teaching and undermine the local democratic accountability of the schools.

The public meeting at Deal Town Hall at 6.30pm will be an opportunity to find out more about what a MAT would mean for children, the reasons people are opposed to it and the ways the community can take action.

Speakers include National Education Union joint general secretary Mary Bousted, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Dover and Deal, Charlotte Cornell, Miriam Scharf of the Anti-Academies Alliance, Deal Town Councillor Sue Beer and parent Andrew Bull.