UNISON has criticised Kirklees Council for choosing a controversial company to open an academy school.

The trade union says picking London-based firm E-Act to run a new school on the site of Batley Girls’ High School could be a ‘potential disaster’ for education in the area.

This follows an NUT (National Union of Teachers) strike at the E-Act controlled Crest Boys’ Academy school in North London in protest at the redundancy of seven teachers.

The academy, due to open on Windmill Lane, Howden Clough, in 2013 is part of Kirklees’ Building Schools for the Future programme.