A HEADTEACHER said plans to convert schools into academies were not a ‘perfect solution’ but were attractive because the change allows more flexible budgets.

Bowland High School is pursuing plans to become an academy after the governors passed a motion last year.

Head Stephen Cox said the move, if agreed with by parents, staff and other interested parties, would allow him to only pay for services from Lancashire County Council that it uses.

He said that although school budgets have remained relatively untouched by the Government cuts, they will not increase to cover overall rising costs - but academy status would allow him to spend more effectively for the benefit of his students and staff.

Currently a chunk of the school’s budget is taken by the council before it is handed to the school to cover the cost of services from admissions through to educational and inspection support.

But he argued that the school was contributing to a number of services it does not use and savings from those would cover other costs, such as increasing teacher salaries to take inflation into account.

Mr Cox said: “In my opinion academies aren’t the perfect solution but we have to get the best solution to get the best for the school in this environment.”

He said greater autonomy for academies was not a major selling point because all schools still had to be accountable to organisations like Ofsted and follow the National Curriculum.

Mr Cox said if the academy status was agreed, the school would be working harder than ever to maintain work with neighbouring and partner schools such as St Augustine’s RC High School, Billington.

He said: “We have never been a well off school and we don’t gain huge amounts of money.

“Academy status offers us self protection. The autonomy is not that attractive but allows us to make better use of services from Lancashire County Council.

“We have to look at things given the economic situation and shrinking budgets. We want value for money for our youngsters.

“We would still use a number of services from the council.

“We don’t want to become isolated, we value our current partnerships and will work hard to maintain them.”

Mr Cox said pay and condition of staff would not change as it would not be in the school’s interest financially or otherwise to operate two separate pay structures.

The school plans to open as an academy in September.

But that decision will only be taken with the backing of everyone involved with the school.