A widespread uprising among staff against their schools' plans to become academies has been predicted, after staff at one signed a resolution opposing the idea.

In October Greenshaw High School, formed a consortium with Sutton’s 13 other publicly funded schools advocating the advantage of becoming academies “without undue delay”.

The schools confirmed this week they were still looking in to getting collective academy status - a move which would make Sutton the only local authority not in control of any schools, and critics believe could make schools more selective in admissions and drive down educational standards at the cost of vulnerable Sutton children.

Now more than a hundred teaching and non-teaching staff at Greenshaw have become the first at a school in the borough to openly object to the proposals, raising concerns about its effect on school performance, teachers pay and admission, pupils selection and inclusion, and teaching staff quality.

After a meeting last week, which involved members from six different trade unions, they signed a joint resolution opposing the plans.

Sue Smith of Sutton Teachers Committee, that represents teachers in the borough, said: “This is the first direct action taken by staff within their schools and could well lead to staff and parents at other schools taking similar action."

Greenshaw High School were asked to comment on the action by its staff, and released a joint statement from a consotium of headteachers and governors.

It said: "Secondary schools continue to investigate collective academy status.

"The Chairs of Governors and Headteachers of all Sutton secondary schools have agreed to continue to investigate the option of collectively seeking academy status.

"They reaffirmed their commitment to continue to work in partnership with each other and with the local authority for the benefit of all their students and the young people of Sutton.

"All the Chairs and Headteachers are keen to preserve the good working relationships between their schools and to continue to support each other.

"They also wish to ensure that disadvantaged students and those with special needs are properly provided for and that some schools are not ‘left behind’ as others become academies.

"They believe this may be best secured by the schools becoming academies on a collective basis.

"A change in status to become an academy would not alter a school’s character or its admission arrangements.

"The Government has said that it wants all schools to become academies, and some schools are already considering this option.

"Any decision that Sutton schools will move collectively to Academy status will be subject to detailed consideration and decision by each individual school Governing Body following consultation with staff, parents and the wider community."