A FORMER head teacher of Winchester’s top-performing school has thrown his weight behind it becoming an academy.

Ray Bradbury, who led Kings’ for more than two decades before retiring in 2005, said breaking away from local authority control would be a ‘huge step forward’.

The 64-year-old attacked critics of academies saying it was ‘incredibly selfish’ to deny schools the opportunities of more independence.

“I would not hesitate to investigate it if I was still in charge,” said Mr Bradbury, who failed in a bid to make Kings’ a grant-maintained school during his tenure. “But it’s up to them, I wouldn’t want to suggest anything to them.”

Kings', Henry Beaufort and Alresford’s Perins have all expressed an interest about finding out more about becoming academies. But all insist they will fully consult parents first.

“It’s so incredibly selfish to say you can’t become an academy,” said Mr Bradbury, back in Winchester after a five-year spell on the Isle of Wight.

“That’s a selfish, one-size-fits-all approach. The people at the school are in the best position to know what is best for the school, not the county council. If a school is able to run it’s own affairs why should it be prevented from doing so?”

He added: “Outstanding schools have demonstrated they can run their own affairs quite satisfactorily and often better than that.

“The county council is trying to micro-manage admission - individual schools can do this perfectly adequately.”

Two other former head teachers have already hit out over academies.

Ex-Westgate head Peter Jenner claimed they would lead to “wasteful and inefficient” selection while Richard Coleman, who used to head up South Wonston Primary, said schools needed the back up of local authorities.

Sue Lawrence, head teacher at Kings’, said: “We expressed an interest early on but that was mainly to get more information because there’s no way I’m going to make any massive changes to this school when it’s as successful as it is, unless it’s hugely beneficial for us to make that move.

“So it’s far too early yet for us to say we’re going or not going to become an academy. We certainly would not be in a rush to do anything.

“I’m in the fortunate position: I have a fantastic school here, we’re very successful.

“The local authority is supportive, but not intrusive, so as yet I have to sort of do a cost-benefit analysis and see what the overall benefits would be.”

Henry Beaufort head Jonathan de Sausmarez said: “The position we gave taken is we’ll keep a watching brief.

“We’re very happy with Hampshire County Council and we have no reason to leave the authority.

“However clearly there are some very serious financial times ahead and I think schools need to keep all their options open to get the best deal for students.”