Plans to force Croydon’s special schools to become academies could destroy a “vital” link between health services and the council, an autism campaigner and parent has warned.

Seven special schools would be removed from Croydon Council control under Department for Education (DfE) proposals, published last month, to make all state schools convert to academies by 2020.

Under special educational needs and disability regulations pupils’ learning and healthcare must be integrated.

But Labour councillor Andrew Rendle, deputy cabinet member for families, health and social care and Croydon’s “autism champion”, fears that link may be lost if academy providers take over special schools.

He said: “That link the schools have got with the local council and with the local NHS is just vital. I have had quite a few parents come to me not at all happy about the forced academisation.

“It just seems very ill-thought out policy. I get the feeling that the special schools side of it hasn’t really been thought about and it is just solely concentrating on the mainstream where exam results are king.”

The council is looking to expand two of its special schools, St Nicholas School in Purley and Red Gates School in South Croydon, to cope with increased demand for places.

Cllr Rendle, who has two autistic sons that attend special schools in Croydon, added: “In Croydon we have the same amount of children and young people entering our autism pathway as five of the boroughs that surround us put together.

“Our special schools are either [rated by Ofsted] good or excellent. I just don’t see the point to then put on this extra burden, extra expenses and extra time and effort to academise them when they are already doing a good job.”

A DfE spokesman said: “Academies are subject to a rigorous system of accountability and oversight, tougher and more transparent than maintained schools."

The department declined to comment on Cllr Rendle’s concerns because of local election purdah.