IMPROVEMENTS are ahead for one North Somerset school as its application to change into an academy has been given the green light – just weeks after it applied for the new status.

A decision to go ahead with the transition was made on April 6 by governors at Churchill Community School, as recommend by headteacher Dr Barry Wratten.

After officially applying to the Department for Education, the school was surprised to already hear back last week that it had been successful.

Dr Wratten said: “I have said in previous newsletters that I have never lived through such rapidly changing times – and the proof of this particular pudding is the email I received over our application to convert to academy status. The decision is made and as I like to do, I quote Gandalf at times like this - ‘And so it begins’.

“And so it does. We are ready for this move and we know it is the right thing for us at this time, given the circumstances and the changes happening across the country and here in North Somerset.

“This really isn’t about principles or politics, but it is about opportunities to make things work better at Churchill.”

Speaking to parents in March, Dr Wratten said he thought an academy move would be ‘the best show in town’ and he fully supported the transition.

At a public meeting held by the school only a few parents turned up to hear about the plans and no objections were raised.

Dr Wratten stressed the governor-led school would not introduce a student selection process and that more details on the move are due to be revealed in the next few months.

He said: “So we now start the hard work of the academy conversion and I am confident the children, their parents, the staff and other professional colleagues will see little change in the way we do things – except improvements.

“The governors’ determination to make Churchill outstanding in all aspects is a determination shared by me and my senior colleagues - which will now be entirely in our own hands.

“It is a challenge and one which we relish.”