BARROWFORD Primary School has launched a consultation into becoming an academy.

Governors and headteacher Rachel Tomlinson are keen to see the school’s status changed as they believe it will give it greater freedom and enhance children’s learning experience.

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A leaflet with information about the potential transformation and a question-and- answer feedback form were handed to all parents yesterday and have also been sent to local businesses, shops and GP surgeries in Barrowford.

Mrs Tomlinson said: “We want the consultation to be as open as possible and we are very keen to hear back from as many people in the community as possible.

“I think that my opinion is very clear on the information leaflet and I think that becoming an academy would be a fantastic thing for us.

However, we will listen to the community and if we are overwhelmed with negative responses then we will not seek to change our status.”

Academy schools are state-funded and not controlled by local authorities. They do not have to follow the national curriculum and can set their own term times. They still need to follow the same rules on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions as state schools.

Mrs Tomlinson added: “We are a very innovative school and we already have lots of pioneering work going on. We are sanction-free and instead of rewarding or punishing our pupils, we promote a set of values that we all work towards.

“We also let our children set the curriculum wherever possible and aim to give children a very personal learning experience.

“These things and a host of other innovative teaching and learning techniques that we use could be expanded and built upon were we to become an academy.”

Staff at the school are encouraged to fill out the questionnaire to give their opinions but Mrs Tomlinson said the feeling in school was generally ‘positive’.

The consultation runs until 11 November.