Controversial plans to convert a Canterbury grammar school to an academy have been scrapped.

Leaders at the city's Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School had already won approval for the change from the Department for Education.

But in a statement released this afternoon, the governing body announced that it had withdrawn the proposal "at this time".

It means a consultation meeting set to be held tomorrow has now been cancelled.

The proposal had sparked outrage among some protesting parents, who feared a 'privatisation' of the school.

The statement released to parents today reads: "The governors of Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School have taken the decision to withdraw the proposal to convert to academy status at this time and, as a result, the consultation on the question of academy conversion is withdrawn.

"Therefore, the proposed consultation meeting on Wednesday, June 8 will now no longer take place.

"However, stakeholders are invited to attend a meeting in early July when a full report of the consultation responses received will be made available to all stakeholders.

"The governing body has reviewed the consultation responses informally to May 16, and these have been taken into account when making this decision."