A SOUTH Essex school has proved so successful it has been shortlisted to become the country's first non-city academy.

Greensward College, in Hockley, will be one of eight schools in the running to become an academy, funded directly by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, rather than by the local authority.

This would give it the freedom to set its own curriculum and to link with other schools.

The academy scheme has so far been used only for failing schools in deprived inner-city areas, but this new project could see a successful rural school transformed with Government money.

The school would link with a failing school - in this case the John Bramston School, in Witham - to share ideas and help improve the way it is run. This would mean the vice-principle working at the failing school until it can get back on its feet. Greensward principal David Triggs stressed the school had only expressed an interest in becoming an academy, and there were no certainties yet. However, he believed it was in with a good chance.

He said: "We want to make sure it's done in the right way. Everything we do here is for young people and the community. We are a public service."

Mr Triggs said if the school was successful, it would receive an endowment fund and would like to use the interest to pay for trips to foreign countries for children who might not be able to afford it.

If the project goes ahead, Essex County Council would still have to carry out statutory responsibilities, such as running school buses and dealing with special educational needs. The council would also help with the proposal and have a seat on the school's board.