AN "outstanding" Enfield school was among only seven of the Government's new-style primary academies to open this week.
The former Cuckoo Hall Primary School, in Cuckoo Hall Lane, Edmonton, was granted the special status by education secretary Michael Gove after meeting the criteria.
It means the primary school is no longer under the control of Enfield Council, and will manage its own budget using funds received directly from central Government.
Local authorities on average keep eight per cent or more of the funds they receive for schools in their area to support central services such as school buses.
Academies do not have to contribute to this, meaning it can channel the money to fund other projects. Headteacher Patricia Sowter said the the extra sum could amount to as much as £200,000 a year.
Ms Sowter said: "This is a real opportunity for our school, our children and our community.
"We will be able to reach more children and make a bigger difference to education in this area. We are an inclusive school and that will not change.
"These new academy freedoms mean we now have the flexibility to adapt and extend the curriculum, target more resources more effectively, use specialist staff and build a school infrastructure to ensure continued and long-term outstanding educational provision for our community".
Ms Sowter said the school would continue to work with neighbouring primaries and not "in isolation".
Cuckoo Hall was judged outstanding by the Government's education watchdog Ofsted in May 2009 and won approval to change to academy status by Mr Gove in June 2010.
Enfield Independent 06/09/10
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