AN East Lancashire headteacher is one of 31 school bosses from across the country who has backed plans to remove schools from local council control.

Judith Williams, who is in charge of Peel Park Primary School, Accrington, has shown support to Tory policy which proposes that schools should be given more freedom.

The Conservative party has suggested it would give more power to high performing state schools by converting them into semi independent academies, if they were elected.

Her signature, along with others including headteachers from Manchester, Cumbria and London, has been included in a letter by members of the Foundation, Aided Schools and Academies National Association, which is a non-political organisation that has pushed for schools to become more autonomous and be given greater freedom.

The association is a national forum for headteachers at primary and secondary schools.

The Alice Street school is a foundation school.

Graham Jones, Labour perspective parliamentary candidate for Hyndburn and ward councillor, said: “It is very, very frustrating to hear she has signed this but it is not surprising.

"It is a crackpot idea. It’s bonkers.”

Karen Buckley, Conservative perspective parliamentary candidate for Hyndburn, said: “I welcome Mrs Williams support.

"The Conservative party has radical proposals for education, increase parental choice and raise discipline in the classroom.

"Over the past 13 years many children have been failed by Labour intervention, the Conservatives will take children in a better direction.”

Ms Williams was yesterday unavailable for comment.

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