FOUR secondary schools in the Yeovil area say they are considering academy status on a joint basis.

Buckler's Mead, Stanchester, Preston and Westfield schools say they are investigating academy status and have promised a full and proper consultation before any decision is made.

New legislation passed by the government in July allowed more schools to become academies.

Schools with academy status are funded directly by government, rather than through the local education authority.

They are given greater independence including the ability to set their own pay and conditions for staff, and change term dates and the length of school days.

Academies can also choose not to follow the National Curriculum.

Schools which have received an outstanding rating by school inspectors Ofsted have been encouraged to become academies, while all schools have been give the chance to register an interest.

Huish Episcopi School, which has received an outstanding rating, has gone down the academy path. It is awaiting confirmation from the Government that when term starts on Monday it can officially be known as an academy.

None of the four Yeovil secondary schools is currently eligible to become academies because they are not rated as outstanding by Ofsted.

However, they may become eligible for the status if the requirement is changed.

Preston School has registered with the Department of Education to find out more information about academy status.

It is currently rated "good with outstanding features" by Ofsted and is not likely to be inspected again before 2012.

According to principal Tony Bloxham, the schools are only undertaking a fact-finding exercise at the moment.

A joint statement for all four schools says: "All four head teachers in Yeovil are committed to providing the best for learners in their schools and as such, together and jointly are looking into the benefits and risks of academy status.

"As more detail emerges all four schools will ensure full and proper consultation with their communities, prior to any decision being made."

Parents and some school staff are understood to have concerns about proposed academy status.

Parent Will Adams said: "Academies are effectively the start of privatisation of the education system and it is only the students and staff that will lose out in the end.

"Schools that become academies are no longer controlled by the local council and are no longer regulated by general education laws.

"Although there could be initial financial gains the school is likely to face a shortfall in funding over the next decade."

Mr Adams said he found the idea of businesses becoming sponsors of academies was worrying.