HAYGROVE School has been given permission to become an academy.

The move, designed to give the school greater control over its budget, was approved by the Secretary of State after an application by Haygrove’s governors.

The Mercury reported on the plans last month.

Schools with academy status are free from local authority control; instead they get their funding direct from central government.

Haygrove head teacher Karen Canham said the school’s name would not change, nor would day-to-day life for students.

After final approval was given, she said: “The greatest advantage for us is the freedom to be able to have greater control over our finances, in order to ensure that students and staff benefit from the highest quality services.”