SMITHILLS School could break away from local authority control and become an academy supported by Bolton School, it has been revealed.

If successful, the school —which is currently in the bottom half of the local secondary school league table — will form a partnership with Bolton School, the top performing school in the borough and one of the country’s leading educational establishments.

School governor Cllr John Walsh described the opportunity as “exciting”, while Bolton School said it was part of its work to “support education and learning”.

Smithills School will have to become a sponsored academy as it is not rated as a good or outstanding school, which would have allowed it to become a publicly funded independent school without the involvement of an outside body.

“The school is consulting on proposals to become an academy with staff, parents, pupils and the community before taking a decision.

Governors say that the move to become an academy would protect the “ethos of Smithills School”.

Cllr Walsh, who is chairman of the finance committee, said: “Smithills is not a failing school, it is a rapidly improving school.

“We have had a new headteacher in place for over the past year-and-a-half and enormous progress has been made.”

“We feel this is the right way forward to prog-ress.”

He added: “Bolton School aims to improve educational standards across the borough and we would formalise an already existing relationship which would assist in teaching and learning.

“Although we do not have a sixth form here, pupils will benefit from skilled A-level teachers and extra-curricular activities. This is an exciting opportunity.”

Cllr Walsh said academy freedoms mean more control over the curriculum which would further raise standards and described sponsors ConcertEd, as educational experts.

Philip Britton, headteacher of Bolton School Boys’ Division, said: “Bolton School works with a large number of schools across Bolton as part of its commitment to supporting education and learning. We were very proud to show that wide ranging commitment to Dr Liz Sidwell, the Schools Commissioner, when she visited earlier this year.

“As part of that, we have had a number of links with Smithills School over the years and the Governors of Smithills have invited us to continue this support in order to develop further the quality of education and levels of attainment at Smithills.

“We are pleased to be able to support Smithills and its academy sponsor ConcertEd in its ambitions for the educational aspirations of young people in the borough.

“This relationship will build on the collaboration and successful arrangements which already exist.”