Cabinet supports plan for academy

Plans to close a struggling high school and create Norfolk's first academy have been backed by Norfolk County Council.

Businessman Graham Dacre has pledged £2m for an academy at Heartsease High School, an option which the Bishop of Norwich Graham James also supported.

School governors rejected the option to close the Norwich school, wanting to keep it running with 600 students and its specialist engineering status.

After consultation the council cabinet favoured shutting the 66% full school.

No faith school

Rosalie Monbiot, from Norfolk County Council, said it had consulted locally and there was no strong opposition, so the cabinet had backed the academy plan.

"This is a very important step forward after three and a half months of consultation.

"We assessed there was 62% of people who responded in favour of the academy so we have passed on our decision of support to the Secretary of State for Education for approval of the scheme.

"I was disappointed with the level of support after a lot of meetings, wide advertising and provision of literature in churches, libraries and other public places.

"Despite the involvement of the Bishop of Norwich it cannot be a faith school but will follow the National Curriculum and the religious education programme that all schools in Norfolk follow."