A HIGH-achieving north Hampshire secondary school has received confirmation that it can become an academy – but the head and governors are not rushing a final decision.

Robert May’s School, in Odiham, applied to Education Secretary Michael Gove to become an academy in March last year.

The application was approved – but the school’s governors are still deciding if it is the right move.

Susan Rafter, headteacher, said: “There’s no rush. We want to make sure it is the right decision before we go ahead with anything final.”

The school held a consultation on becoming an academy last year. If it converts, it means the school will be free of Hampshire County Council control and instead be responsible for its own decisions about education and management.

Mrs Rafter said: “Every group that we have consulted with, including the community, has supported our decision to progress the application. But it’s still subject to satisfactory funding.

“It has all got to be right, up to the last point. We just don’t feel there’s a need to rush, and we want to make the right decision.”

Robert May’s was able to apply to become an academy independently because it has an “outstanding” report from education watchdog Ofsted.

Academy schools are able to set their own pay and conditions for staff and can change the lengths of school terms and days. They continue to receive the same funding per pupil, but are also given top-up funding to meet additional responsibilities which are no longer managed by the local authority.

Funding comes from Government, as opposed to through the council, allowing the school to decide how to use it.

Now that Robert May’s has approval, it can covert at any point.