Parents whose children have been allocated Bushey Hall School against their will attended a tour and talk about the school's future yesterday evening.

Headteacher of the London Road school, Graham Yapp, sent out an invitation to parents of the 241 children who were allocated the school last week despite not choosing it.

He said the talk and tour of the buildings by a current pupil at the school were intended to explain issues such as the school's special measures status and its proposed transformation into an independent business and communication academy.

Following the meeting, Mr Yapp said: “The purpose of the event was to help these families decide whether to accept a place at Bushey Hall. I didn't think they could possibly make that decision without visiting us.

“People came to the school with a wide range of attitudes some were frustrated while others came in open minded and ready to work with us.”

He added: “I can understand the frustration as there is a lot about the school that is in transition and I understand there is perhaps not enough information available about what the academy is going to be.

“Some parents will say OK, the school has a very positive future and I am prepared have my children be part of that while others will say the school is not good enough at the moment and I don't want my children to go there. If that is the case we very much respect that decision.”

A recent Ofsted monitoring report by government inspectors, part of the special measures process, said there had been a “satisfactory” improvement in the school since the last motioning report but general progress since the special measures status was given was inadequate.

Mr Yapp said the initial lack of progress was due to a loss of staff and a difficulty in finding a school to pair with. This pairing later became one with “Outstanding” rating Sir John Lawes school in Harpenden, which is also the co-sponsor of the proposed academy.