Eight North Somerset schools could soon join an academy trust and parents are being invited to comment on the idea.

The Lighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP) looks after Gordano School and five primary schools in Portishead and Portbury.

However, it could grow to 13 members if proposals unveiled in the past week get the green light.

The schools consulting on joining LSP are: Backwell School, Backwell Junior School, West Leigh Infant School, Flax Bourton Primary School, Yatton infant and junior schools, Northleaze Primary School and the Federation of Hannah More Infant and Grove Junior Schools.

The headteachers of all the schools said there were advantages to work together under the LSP.

The joint-statement released said: “The model we are proposing will have a great many benefits for our children, families and staff.

“In particular we will be able to share facilities and staff expertise to develop the opportunities available across our schools.

“The central focus of our collaboration will be on the professional development for our staff so that we continually improve in our teaching and learning.”

Academies are independent of council control, but remain state funded. Supporters of them say this enables schools to have greater control over their day-to-day running.

Letters were due to be sent to parents of the eight schools informing them of the move at the end of last week.

LSP stresses that ‘the formation of a multi-academy trust would not affect the day to day running of schools involved in the process, and that each school would maintain its own individuality, ethos and value’.

School names will not change and uniforms will not be altered either, if they decide to join the LSP.

Parents have until June 12 to offer their views on the plan and a final announcement over the schools’ futures is expected to be made later this year.