Parents were invited to an information evening about a school’s plans to convert into an academy.

Marshalls Park secondary school in Pettits Lane, Romford, launched a consultation among parents, pupils and staff on Wednesday over a proposal to make the transition.

This means the school would become independent from Havering Council and receive funding directly from government.

The school’s governing body already applied to join the South West Essex Community Education Trust, which is led by William Edwards School in Grays but they pledged they would not go ahead with the conversion if parents and staff opposed the plan.

If the consultation result is positive, Marshalls Park would become an academy and join the trust from April 1, 2017.

A statement from the school said: “The Governing Body will not agree to the signing of the Funding Agreement unless they are content that conversion would be in the best interests of the school taking account of all of the legal and practical ramifications.”

The statement adds that becoming an academy would enable the school to set its own curriculum, could provide better pay for staff and would enable the school to bid for additional funding.

“There is no doubt that improvements to the infrastructure of Marshalls Park school are long overdue and these can be achieved through our conversion to academy status,” the statement reads.

The conversion would also mean the school would operate a two week half-term break in October by having an extended school day on Mondays, in line with the rest of the trust.

The consultation ends on January 10.