THERE was considerable opposition from teachers and parents when the idea of replacing schools in South Croydon and Addiscombe with academies was first mooted.

Croydon Council, however, was adamant that the changes would improve grades and prospects for children at Haling Manor and Ashburton Community School.

Most controversy centred on specialist music school Haling Manor, now Harris Academy Purley, which was one of the fastest improving schools in the country.

Its 2009 results of 33 per cent of children scoring five or more GCSEs including English and maths at A* to C beat the government target of 30 per cent.

But under the council's target of 40 per cent the school was "failing".