QUEEN Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale will become the first secondary school in the county to convert to academy status following the Government’s invitation in July.

The 400-year-old school will achieve academy status on December 1, giving the school’s management more control over its finances, admissions policy and curriculum.

QES follows in the footsteps of Seaton Primary School, Workington, which became the first school to convert when the Government invited schools graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted to fast track to academy status.

Head teacher Chris Clarke said that while he was pleased the school was entering a new chapter, the academy status would not bring about any dramatic changes.

“We see this as a natural progression for the school rather than a dramatic change and we are looking forward to it. This is an opportunity to continue with the progress in achievement that’s been made across all the South Lakes Federation of Schools in the past few years.”

He said the status change would help the school target its most vulnerable pupils.

“By gaining more freedom from the local authority we will be able to provide the very best services for young people, especially vulnerable students.

“We will be able to provide services ourselves rather than having them brought in,” he said.

Another welcome change will be the increased freedom over the curriculum, according to Mr Clarke.

“Teaching we feel has been fettered at particular times and academy status would allow us to choose things which we feel are more creative and challenging for our students.”

He has confirmed there will be no changes to the admissions policy at the 1,370 pupil school.

An Academy Trust will now govern the school, which is a registered business with Companies House in London.

While many of the new academies have commercial sponsors, QES will draw all of its Academy Trust members from the existing governing body.

“There’s no necessity for us to have commercial sponsors,” Mr Clarke said. “No one new is coming in as a director of the trust, it will absolutely replicate the existing governing body structure which has worked so well over the past few years.”

Mr Clarke will hold a meeting with parents on Monday to explain more about the change to academy status.

Dallam School in Milnthorpe is likely to become the next academy in the federation and is expected to change status by February.