A TOTTENHAM MP has arranged a debate in Parliament over plans to force primary schools in the borough to become academies.

Former Downhills Primary School pupil David Lammy has secured time in the House of Commons at 6pm next Thursday for a debate over Education Secretary Michael Gove’s plans to push through changes at the Philip Lane school as well eas three others.

Mr Lammy has been an outspoken critic of Mr Gove’s plan to remove the board of governors at Downhills if they do not agree to academy status by January 20.

He said: “It is absolutely outrageous that Michael Gove is going over the heads of the parents, teachers and governors in Haringey and imposing academy status on our schools.

“We all want the best for our children – we want high standards in schools. But Michael Gove wants to go against the wishes of the whole community.

“This is a fundamentally undemocratic way to push his ideological agenda and I will oppose him all the way.”

In a speech yesterday, Mr Gove labelled Haringey parents and teachers - who want to stop the Government forcing schools into academies against their will - “ideologues happy with failure”.

Three other schools – Nightingale Primary School, in Bounds Green Road, Wood Green; Noel Park Primary School, in Gladstone Avenue, Wood Green; and Coleraine Park Primary School, in Glendish Road, Tottenham – have also been warned they could face conversion.