Mr Hallows said there would be also major concerns if the school is forced to appoint an ordained headteacher when current head Sandy Tittershill retires in July, 2008. "We would have no problem appointing a C of E ordained headteacher, but currently we can recruit from the entire national pool of talent and if that choice is restricted we may not find the best person for the job." Teachers were called to an emergency meeting to discuss the developments yesterday, and last night Mr Tittershill wrote to parents urging them to write to him with their views on the plan. He said he believed the character and identity of the school were at risk and stated his "wholehearted opposition" to designation as a C of E school. School officials will hold a crisis meeting with Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy, who has been backing the school's stance, on Friday. Education Minister Mr Johnston has given the school just a month, until January 12, to lodge its objections to the plan. Mr Hallows said the school was 100% opposed to the takeover, which he said was "not being done amicably". "The way they have gone about this is despicable. "They served this notice on us without our knowledge 18 months ago and they are pressing ahead despite our opposition. "We are taking legal advice to find out if a judicial review is an option." But the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Rev David Jennings, who chairs the Diocesan Board of Education, described the past couple of years as "difficult, because of the emotions that this matter has caused". He said there was clear evidence the school was founded as a C of E school, and he had asked the Secretary of State to investigate why its status had not been clarified after the 1998 Education Act. Mr Hallows stressed religious prayers and texts were already read during assemblies at a chapel attached to the church: "This is absolutely not about opposing religious education or spiritual nourishment of the pupils," he said. "It is about marinating quality in standards of education at a school which happened to be founded by a benevolent church minister 300 years ago. "But that was the end of the Church's involvement." deborahjames@dailypost.co.uk 'Astonished' headteacher asks parents for their views on the C of E proposals >>> | 
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