Last Friday I visited Francis Combe Academy to meet with staff and pupils. I had visited the school last year before it became an Academy and I was very impressed by the dramatic transformation- from the school buildings to attendance levels and exam results.

I really enjoyed meeting the students, taking part in lessons and answering the many questions of the Sixth Form students.

What I saw at Francis Combe is a perfect illustration of how schools can prosper and develop with a greater level of freedom for the Head to run the school with a great deal of involvement from parents and governors.