A KENTON school rated “outstanding” by Ofsted is considering applying for academy status.

Claremont High School, in Claremont Avenue, will get a boost to its budget and greater independence if it takes up the offer from Michael Gove, the new Education Secretary.

Headteacher Terry Molloy told the Harrow Times the board had decided to look into the possibility, but would take advice first.

He said: “The starting point is how would becoming an academy benefit the pupils in the school? As with all the decisions in the past, it has to be because of that.”

He said his main concern about the change in status was the possibility that opting out of Brent Council control would leave Claremont less able to work in partnership with other schools.

He said: “If you look at the schools across Brent, they have made great progress. Why would we want to break something that has been really strong?”

Claremont was handed the outstanding rating by the education watchdog last week and Inspector Gill Close praised its environment, saying pupils cared about each other and enjoyed going to school.

Mr Molloy said: "We are really pleased, because it's been quite a long journey to this point. Our biggest target has been making sure our results for the pupils are really strong.”