If there are plans you can object in the following ways:

• Find out if anyone else is campaigning against the school. Parents, teachers, local trade union branches and the Anti Academies Alliance are often all involved in campaigns against controversial new schools.

• Respond to local consultations. It need not be a long or formal response, just an objection on principle, with some local knowledge if possible. The consultation document should be available on the council website, along with contact details for the officals responsible.

• Collect more information, either from Council documents or from the local media about the progress of the proposal and other future proposals.

• Write to the LEA’s Director of Education asking for more information and making objections.

• Write to local councillors and to members of the Education Committee to express concern and to seek their support.

• Contact your MP and make him/her aware of your views, either by letter or at a local surgery.

• Write to local newspapers and radio stations. MPs and councillors pay a great deal of attention to the local press and publicity will also help inform those who don’t know about the proposal or the arguments against it.

• If you live outside the relevant LEA, point out to your councillor or MP that wide catchment areas mean that new schools can affect areas outside the LEA. Neighbouring LEAs should also be consulted.