Academy approval for Church Stretton Secondary School
A secondary school today revealed plans to convert to academy status within the next month.
Church Stretton Secondary School is on track to make the move on April 1 – just 18 months after first considering the idea.
The school, which has 682 pupils, will then receive its funding directly from central government, rather than through a local authority.
A working party of governors was set up in 2011 to look into the issue and last summer recommended the school proceed with an application.
Consultation meetings with staff and parents were held and in December Education Secretary Michael Gove formally approved the process of application.
Head teacher Steve Lunt said a lot of hard work had been done, much of it by Mrs Cathy Thomas, the school's business manager, working with solicitors to process the necessary paperwork.
A not for profit charitable trust will be formed to run the academy and consist of 20 directors who in the first instance will be the existing governors of the school.
Mr Lunt, who will become principal of the academy, said: "These are exciting times for the school and we are looking forward to the greater freedom academy status will afford us.
"As a result, we will be looking to further enhance our teaching and learning facilities.
"We are mindful, however, of the quantity of work we already achieve and with this in mind do not envisage any major changes, for example governors have decided that we should retain our name Church Stretton School.
"Parents and carers have been kept informed with a series of updates which are published on a dedicated web page accessed from the school website www.churchstretton.shropshire.sch.uk"
