PERINS School in Alresford could become one of Hampshire’s first academies in the next few months.

Parents of pupils and staff at the secondary school are being consulted about the change which would give governors greater control over its budget, curriculum, length of school day and staff pay.

School governors are considering the benefits and possible pitfalls of the move.

If they give the go-ahead, an application will be made to Secretary of State and Perins could be an academy as soon as August.

Six schools in the Hampshire County Council area have already converted to academy status including: Thornden, Chandler’s Ford; Wildern, Hedge End; The Moutbatten, Romsey and Ringwood Secondary.

The three secondary schools in Winchester are still weighing the options.

Perins could be the first school in Winchester district to go down this semi-independent route. As a foundation trust school it already has some freedom from local authority control and owns its own buildings and land.

The Government ultimately wants all state-funded schools in England to become academies. Schools that have been rated “outstanding” by Ofsted are first to be invited.

A fact sheet posted on Perins website, says governors have not actively sought to become an academy.

It adds: “However as many schools are choosing to convert we feel that it is an option that we have to look at seriously in order to consider what the implications of this national change in education might be for the school.”

School bosses say there are many issues that need to be considered before a final decision, including funding.

There are no plans for the school to be sponsored by a commercial company. School bosses say it would continue to be a state-funded school with the same staff, ethos, buildings and specialism in sports.

It will remain a non-selective school but it will have the power to accept additional pupils if there are more applications than places.

However school bosses say there are no plans to significantly increase the number of pupils at Perins.

As an academy in addition to its core school grant it will get money that would previously have been spent on its behalf by Hampshire County Council to provide certain services.

For instance special educational needs support and advice, repairs of the school kitchen, museum and library service, educational welfare and music service.

Academies are also responsible for central staff costs such as maternity, long-term sickness and redundancy costs.

The school website says: “The experience of academies to date is that they have been able to buy in services more effectively for themselves or in partnership with other schools which has led to better quality or lower prices. Schools that make savings have been able to reinvest that money elsewhere.”

However the local authority will continue to be responsible for funding support for pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN), prosecuting parents of persistent truants and providing education for children excluded from school.

Meetings are being held for parents next Monday (May 16) and Wednesday (May 18).

Winchester’s three mainstream senior schools are also weighing up the pros and cons of becoming academies but are not as far advanced as Perins.

Sue Lawrence, head teacher of Kings’, said: “No decision has been taken as yet. We are still investigating. I have spoken to staff and governors and had a parents’ information evening.

“We will not be rushing into anything. It will have to be beneficial for the school.”

Paul Nicholson, head teacher of The Westgate, said: “We have expressed an interest to the Department of Education.

“Governors are looking at the benefits and disbenefits. Then we will make a decision about whether it is in the best interests of the school to become an academy. We are in no rush.”

Sue Hearle, head of The Henry Beaufort School, was unavailable for comment.