The fight over the future of the Khalsa Secondary Academy in Stoke Poges is heating up - as a new trust bids to take it over and supporters of the existing team petition the Government to allow it to remain in charge.

Khalsa Secondary School was placed into special measures by Government inspectors from Ofsted in January.

In June leaders of the trust that runs it were given 'notice to quit' by schools minister Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, who recommended the Government withdraw all funding for the school at Hollybush Hill while it stayed under the current leadership.

The trust running the Khalsa Primary School in Slough soon emerged as favourite to take over the running of the Stoke Poges school and will learn next month if its bid has been accepted by the Government.

Last week supporters of the current team handed in a petition of over 5,000 signatures to Baroness Berridge at the Department of Education Office at Sanctuary Buildings in London.

They claim the decision to oust the school's existing trust members was taken in haste during lockdown.

Anita Singh, chairman of the current governors and of the P-TA at the school said: “This decision is irrational, disproportionate, unfair and discriminatory and should be revoked until the Ofsted is able to visit the school and re-inspect. Our school has a four-year track record of being one of the highest performing schools in the local area and nationally."

The new Sikh Academies Trust that hopes to take over at Stoke Poges consists mainly of trustees and governors of the Khalsa Primary School in Slough - but with a number of crucial experts they have recruited.

They include former Director General of Schools in England Professor Ralph Tabberer CB, executive headteacher at Slough's Upton Court Grammar Mark Pritchard and headteacher at Langley Grammar School John Constable.

Jacqueline Laver - who recently retired as head of Slough's Priory Primary and Foundation School has also joined.

Jujar Singh, who is chairman of the trust said: "Together they bring a wealth of educational experience across both primary and secondary education. This is great news for the children of KSA and greatly supplements the existing experience and skills of the governing body at Khalsa Primary School, together with the Sikh Ethos that underpins all we do.”