PUPILS and staff at a Somerset school will soon be enjoying the freedom of academy status.

Huish Episcopi School and Science College, near Langport, will be one of a handful of schools across the country to break free from local authority control.

The school will still be inspected by Ofsted but will have the freedom to manage its own funding, curriculum, service procurement, pay scales and the length of school days and terms.

Huish is already recognised as an outstanding, high performing school, and is one of around 50 academy applications to be approved by the government.

The school has just completed a period of consultation with partners including parents, the school council and local parish councils. Governors are now awaiting the final green light from the Department of Education, which has already approved the move in principle.

Chairman of governors David Bell said: "We have come a very long way down the path since the end of term. We are now at the stage of just needing to cross the ts and dot the is.

"The transition should be seamless and students should hardly notice the change. We are already doing well and academy status will give us the freedom to continue to improve."

Explaining the reason behind the school's pursuit for academy status, Mr Bell added: "We can't just stay the same because things aren't going to stay the same. Funding is going to change over coming years and we don't know the impact of forthcoming cuts at county hall.

"Removing some of the restraints gives the headteacher and his team freedom in terms of giving young people the best possible education.

"This is an exciting time. The school has had several major achievements over the last few years."

Earlier this year, the Huish Episcopi School and Science College took on the management of the on-site leisure centre which was previously run by Somerset County Council. The centre boasts a swimming pool, squash, tennis and volleyball courts, five-a-side football pitches and fitness suites, and is open to the local community.

More recently, work was finished on a new sixth form centre, which will be running its first courses from the start of the new term.