A HEREFORDSHIRE primary school looks set to become an academy, breaking away from the council, and its headteacher thinks pupils will benefit.

Plans are in motion to convert St Peter's Primary School in Bromyard to an academy, meaning its funding would come directly from national government, and not Herefordshire Council.

Writing an open letter to the Bromyard community to make the public aware of the plans, executive headteacher Martin Farmer said pupils, families and staff should benefit as part of the change.

If proposals go ahead after the consultation period, which runs from November 12 to December 10, the school would join an academy trust with the nearby Queen Elizabeth High and Bredenbury Primary.

It would mean the three schools would work closer together, something which Mr Farmer said stemmed from the huge protests of 2008 (pictured) when Herefordshire Council planned to close or merge 37 of the county's schools.

Up to 5,000 people marched through the city centre in protest, with the swathe of closures never going ahead.

"Some of you may be aware that some schools within the Bromyard area have long held a wish to come together formally for the benefit of the children at the schools and the local community," Mr Farmer said.

"This predates when I joined QE and was especially relevant around 2008 when as I believe it the attempts to reduce the educational capacity for the town were vigorously opposed by the community universally."

After Bredenbury was told to become an academy in wake of an inadequate Ofsted rating, other local schools were asked if they wanted to join the QEHC Academy Trust, which is to be renamed the Three Counties Academy Trust.

It was then that the governors of St Peter's agreed to pursue the transition to academy status.

While the day-to-day running of academies remains with the headteacher, they are overseen by charitable bodies called academy trusts.

In his letter, Mr Farmer said the Regional Schools Commissioner Office for the West Midlands, which oversees academies, and Herefordshire Council were both supportive of the proposals for the Cherry Tree Close school, and formal permission would shortly be sought from the Secretary of State for Education.

"St. Peter's Governors and I believe that moving to QEHC Academy Trust will have many benefits for our pupils, families, and staff, not just St. Peter's but all of our schools, and will enable us to work closer with our friends and partners within Bromyard," he said.

"We will be able to share expertise in all areas of school life, whilst at the same time, maintain all of the attributes that make our schools so special.

"The driving force behind this proposal is that member schools, including QE and Bredenbury if approved, will work together to further the education provision of the children that attend the schools.

"We will also be able to share resources and staff expertise to develop our curriculum and school offer.

"The Trust has a central focus on professional development for our staff so that we can continually improve our teaching and learning."