ANOTHER York school could be about to leave City of York Council control to become an academy.

Hempland Primary School in Heworth has followed in the footsteps of the three Southbank schools by starting a consultation with parents on whether it should launch an independent Multi Academies Trust (MAT).

Head teacher Stuart Outram said other schools in the MAT were not yet certain, and if Hempland did go for academy status it was likely to use a quirk of the system to become a MAT on its own, before other schools joined.

He said: "The aim of what we are doing at the moment is to look at whether or not it is right for Hempland to convert as part of an MAT.

"If the school governing body does make the final decision to convert to an academy we are planning for our MAT to consist of a relatively small number of York schools to meet the needs of our communities and to focus on excellence in education."

Partners in any new MAT would have to go through their own information sharing, consultation and decision process.

Mr Outram added: "The current education landscape is changing at a rapid rate. Schools are experiencing an increasing number and range of challenges, including a potential long-term freeze in funding. The local education authority provides excellent support to all schools but they are facing extreme financial challenges too, meaning that they also have to change the way that they work. We have to be prepared and able to respond accordingly.

"We are a forward-thinking school with a pro-active governing body.

"Whatever decisions are made will be taken after extensive information gathering including the feedback we receive from the consultation that we have now begun with parents, staff and stakeholders."

Parents at Hempland Primary have now received a letter about possible academy conversion. A consultation opened on Tuesday and will run until Tuesday, July 14.

Informal drop-in information sessions will take place at the school on Tuesday, June 23 at 9am and 2.15pm, and Friday, July 3 at 2.15pm. Formal meetings with a Q and A sessions are planned for Thursday, July 25 at 6.30pm and Thursday, July 9 at 8.45am.