DUDLEY’S education chief issued a lukewarm response to news one of the borough’s best schools intends to leave local authority control.

Ellowes Hall Sports College in Lower Gornal has announced it plans to become an academy as part of a new four-school trust.

The school is recognised as among the nation’s best for a school of its type but Cllr Tim Crumpton, Dudley cabinet member for children’s services, seems less-than impressed.

He said: “I have no doubt that they are doing this for what they will see as good reasons. I am, as many will know, personally opposed to the academy process as I am not at all convinced it adds value to our children’s education.

“I believe that Dudley has a very good relationship with all of its schools and this will continue to be the case.”