A SOUTH Hams secondary school has told The Herald it wants to become an academy by the end of the year.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has already accepted Ivybridge Community College's application to become an academy and school bosses said yesterday that they are going through the process carefully.

The status will mean that day-to-day funding needs at the school will be met by the State, but it will effectively run itself independent of the local authority.

Michael Gove wrote to every school in the country earlier in the year encouraging them to apply for academy status. All primary and secondary schools that are rated "outstanding" by education watchdog Ofsted automatically meet the criteria to apply for academy status.

Ivybridge is one of only three secondary schools in England to be classed as "outstanding" in four consecutive Ofsted reports over the past decade. Its last one was last summer.

The school decided it would take up Mr Gove's offer and it is now on the way to gaining the academy status.

School spokesman Gill Taylor said yesterday: "We hope to become an academy by the end of the year.

"Rather than rushing to become an academy we are going through the whole process carefully.

"It's all going smoothly to plan. We are doing things in a very methodical way to ensure we have an effective springboard when we do become an academy."

The Plymouth area's other two academies will start their lives this week.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who was the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, was due to officially open Marine Academy Plymouth in St Budeaux this morning.

The academy is the result of Tamarside Community College changing status over the summer holidays.

Pupils will enjoy their first day in the new academy next week — but the organisations behind the project wanted a community event today to mark the official opening. The celebration day was to take place between 10am and 3pm.

Plymouth's other academy — All Saints Church of England Academy, formerly John Kitto Community College — begins its new life with pupils next week.

MAP is sponsored by the University of Plymouth, Cornwall College and Plymouth City Council, and All Saints is sponsored by the Diocese of Exeter and UCP Marjon. Ivybridge won't have any sponsors.