Four bidders have been selected for a final shortlist to run Kings' Manor School in Guildford, including a partnership involving the Edison Project, which runs privatised schools in the United States.

Teachers' unions in the United States and in Britain have attacked Edison's methods of running schools for profit and if the controversial organisation wins the tender for running Kings' Manor there are likely to be further protests.

The Edison Project runs privatised schools in the United States

Also shortlisted have been Nord Anglia Education, the non-profit making Centre for British Teachers and a bid led by Kingshurst City Technology College in Solihull, West Midlands.

Chairman of Surrey's education committee, Andrew Povey, said that the council was looking for an organisation that could give a new image to the school.

The school has failed an Ofsted inspection and has seen its intake fall sharply, making it vital to acquire a better reputation among parents or face closure.

While Edison has specialised in turning around failing schools in the United States, Mr Povey played down the significance of their bid, saying that they were only a partner in a wider consortium.

The company awarded the contract will take a majority of the places on the governing body of the re-constituted school, which will become known as a voluntary-aided school. This governing body will be able to recruit a new headteacher and will become the employer of the teaching staff.

For a price that has still to be agreed, the winner of the contract will manage the school in keeping with the guidelines and performance targets set by the local authority.