HALSTEAD’S secondary school could team up with a Braintree school to become an academy.

Notley High School, in Braintree, plans to sponsor Ramsey College to become free of Essex County Council control.

Both sets of governors would have to agree for the link-up to go ahead.

Mike Murray, Ramsey School headteacher, said: “The governors passed a resolution to say, in principle, we should be looking towards becoming an academy, and the partner they would like us to look at first is Notley, which we are working on.”

More schools are looking towards academy status as Government cuts put pressure on council spending.

Although academies will not get more money, they will have more control over their budgets and could share costs with linked academies.

Mr Murray said: “In the current context it looks as though a lot of secondary schools are moving towards academy status because of financial pressures and we don’t want to be the school that is left behind.”

Ramsey College and Notley High would remain independent with separate headteachers, but would share some resources. They could become academies in September.

Mr Murray said: “Just by co-operating, we will be able to supplement and improve what we have got.

“It is already looking as though it should be bringing financial benefits, but also benefits for the children on both sides.”

Notley High has begun a formal consultation with its pupils’ parents.

Simon Thompson, headteacher, said: “As part of our academy conversion process, we also propose to develop a strong partnership with the Ramsey College by sponsoring them to become an academy at the same time.”