A SCHOOL which was told it needed to improve or face being plunged into special measures is on the brink of becoming an academy, it was revealed today.

A consultation process is currently under way and parents are being asked for their views on the proposed changes to Westbourne Sports College.

The school’s leadership has been considering possible changes for the last few years and hope now to become an academy with the Academy Transformation Trust (ATT).

Dave Lee-Allan, the school’s deputy headteacher, said: “As a senior team we were very excited by what they (ATT) had to offer and thought it was a good step forward.”

Mr Lee-Allan revealed that if the proposals are agreed between parents and staff, the changes could come into effect by February 1.

The school enjoyed its best set of results ever this summer but in an Ofsted report it was graded as three – needing improvement – as their results were not taken into account due to problems with English exam marking.

Mr Lee-Allan added: “We believe they (ATT) are in a position to help us move our school from its current grade three, to outstanding in a short period of time.”

As well as the change in status, the school uniform would be changed and it is proposed the name of the school would change to Academy West – however this has yet to be finalised.