THE Diocese of Guildford has been given approval, by the Department for Education, to set up an academy trust to sponsor The Holme Church of England (Controlled) School in Headley.

Staff and parents have been informed of the change to the school's status which will see the new academy trust, which will run the school, receive direct funding from the Department for Education rather than through the local education authority - Hampshire County Council.

The announcement follows troubling times at the school, which was placed in special measures following an Ofsted inspection in June last year, when the quality of education was judged to be "inadequate".

For full story, see this week's Bordon Herald.