The trade union for school support staff the GMB says Swindon Borough Council's plans to move all schools in the borough into multi-academy trusts will cost the authority more than £120,000 a year in government funding.

And it says it will fight any job losses at Euclid Street or any of the 25 schools which could be transferred from council control to multi-academy trusts.

A report to the Conservative cabinet tomorrow recommends working towards transferring those schools and 18 which are stand-alone academies into what the government calls "school families".

Andy Newman, GMB branch secretary said: “We know that for most parents, they don’t really care how their school is governed, they just want the school to be properly funded and well run.

“There are plenty of great schools in Swindon run by the council, as well as great schools run as academies, or part of a multi academy trust. "We are deeply concerned that the proposal being considered by the council cabinet does not guarantee that staffing levels will be maintained in the schools which will be transferred out of council control.

“Furthermore, the council education service is ultimately democratically accountable to the voters and we worry that multi academy trusts have less local scrutiny from council officials.

“The proposals will lead to a drop of income for the council of £122,000 per year, which currently funds the services for education and key job roles will almost certainly be lost.

“GMB will consult members in the schools and we reassure all school staff GMB is on their side to ensure that they are not negatively affected by this period of change.”

Local campaign group Fair Funding For All Schools in Swindon has said its members will demonstrate outside the council offices at Euclid Street at 5.30pm tomorrow evening before the meeting of the cabinet.