Labour candidate reacts to anti-academy votes at Hove Park School

Peter Kyle, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Hove, has issued a statement in reaction to Hove Park School's move to academy status, the overwhelming vote by parents opposing the move, and the election of three parent-governors opposed to academy status.

Echoing the sentiments of an earlier Conservative Group statement, Mr Kyle, a former governor at Portslade Aldridge Academy and chair of Brighton Aldridge Academy, said: "25% of parents have registered opposition to academy status via the council-orchestrated ballot and I am confident this will be taken into consideration by Hove Park governors as part of a wide-ranging consultation.

"I hope more than anything that politicians and campaigners from outside of the Hove Park community will now respect the need for parents, governors, and teachers to conclude this difficult process with a period of calm in order to fully engage with the local opportunities and concerns that have been thrown up by this debate."

Also read: Another victory for Hove Park School parents opposed to academy status