A Tottenham primary school has become the second in the borough to agree to become an academy, but claims it has been “bullied” into the decision.

Governors of Coleraine Park Primary School, in Glendish Road, agreed “with regret” at a meeting on Thursday to be converted into an academy, with the Harris Federation becoming the sponsor of the school.

But the governors accused the Education Secretary Michael Gove, who warned four schools in December they must agree to convert, of “actively preventing dialogue” with other sponsors and insisting the Harris Federation was the only acceptable choice.

The school’s decision follows Noel Park Primary School’s agreement to the academy plan last week, and the resignation of Downhills Primary School headteacher Leslie Church on Friday after Ofsted inspectors placed the school into special measures.

In a statement, Coleraine Park governors said: “The governing body feels that it has been treated with contempt by Mr Gove and his representatives.

“The decision to 'ask' for an Academy Order was not in any real sense a ‘choice’. It was an instruction to rubber-stamp a decision made by Mr Gove and his officials.

“The governing body believe this whole procedure is a farce and leaves many feeling ignored and belittled.

“Coleraine’s governors feel that the Secretary of State has disempowered them without due regard for their role and has in fact bullied them into a decision in a way that nobody wants.”

All four schools were told in December that if they did not agree to become an academy the board of governors would be removed and an interim executive board – chosen by the Department for Education – would be installed to see the process through.

An Ofsted inspection of Coleraine Park in December recommended that the school be placed into special measures – the worst rating – and said improvements that had been made were “fragile”.

Governors at Nightingale Primary School in Bounds Green Road have not made a public statement but it is understood they are set to reject the academy plan.

The Harris Federation runs 13 academies in south London and is sponsored by Conservative peer Lord Harris, whose Carpetright store was burned down by looters during the riots last August.

Last month, the Haringey Independent revealed that a group of parents and teachers campaigning to set up a sport-based free school in Tottenham, dubbed the Academy of Entrepreneurial and Sporting Excellence, had won its backing and could open to children aged between four and 19 by next September if the Department for Education approves the bid.