PARENTS, students, staff and governors are being asked for their views on plans to convert King Alfred School in Highbridge into an academy.

Governors this week applied to the Department of Education to give the school academy status.

A public consultation has begun and runs until June 3.

The move would see the school become independent from the local authority and its funding would come direct from central Government.

The Government is encouraging strongly performing schools to seek academy status, which it says will give them greater decision-making powers.

Simon Aylward, assistant head teacher, told the Weekly News: “It would mean we would be able to do the things we want to do in cash terms.

“The Government has a very strong policy in favour of academies and we need to see whether there are benefits for our students and the wider community.”

Mr Aylward would not expand on the school's future plans if it does convert to an academy and said it was not yet clear if more funding would be available than at present.

Head teacher Andy Owen added: “Our recent Ofsted inspection described the school as 'improving rapidly' so little will change if we do become an academy except in ways which we think will further improve the school.

“For students, it is unlikely that they will see much, if any, change in their day-to-day school lives.”

He insisted parents, staff and children would be involved in any future changes and said the school remained committed to working with its partner primary and junior schools.