TWO secondary schools in North Somerset have converted to academies – taking the number of schools coming out of local authority control to seven.

Clevedon Community School and Broadoak Maths and Computing College in Weston-super-Mare have both converted to academies this month.

The move will see both schools come out of the control of North Somerset Council and be responsible for running all aspects of the school, from maintaining buildings to deciding on what courses are offered.

The change at Clevedon School follows a number of successes over the years including a new uniform, the introduction of a house system and the opening of a Discovery Centre on the campus.

The 1,230-pupil school has improved the standards of the students' examination results year on year in recent years and was recognised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust for the 'most improved GCSE results' in a national context over the past three years.

The school was also rated outstanding by Ofsted inspectors in October.

Headteacher John Wells said: "The conversion to academy status now gives an opportunity to use the flexibility and freedom to continue to drive standards even higher and provide fantastic opportunities for students to develop and flourish.

"The school will be responsible for all decisions and can choose to purchase services from the best providers available.

"This marks the start of the next chapter for Clevedon School."

The governing body of Broadoak Maths and Computing College also agreed to convert to an academy this month. Consultations on converting to an academy started last summer, with a move to academy status being welcomed by parents.

The school has celebrated its best ever GCSE results and was judged as excellent by Ofsted inspectors.

School leaders said the conversion to an academy would give the school greater flexibility.

Chair of governors John Brock said: "The governing body reaffirms the college's current values and ethos and these will continue to underpin our work in the future.

"Students remain at the heart of the college so that they enjoy their time here and achieve across a wide range of areas.

"However we feel that we will have greater flexibility in terms of running the school as an academy."

Broadoak is the sixth secondary school in North Somerset to convert to an academy.

Broadoak headteacher Shelagh Pritchard said: "In terms of every day activity students, parents and staff will not notice any difference for example the name will not change.

"I am delighted that through the successes of the college we have been able to become an academy.

"Our philosophy to 'maximise students' abilities, ambitions and academic potential' will continue."