A Walsall school today became the first in the Black Country to be awarded academy status under a new Government bill.

As an academy, Park Hall Infant School is now independent from council control.

The school in Park Hall Road was given the go-ahead after applying through a fast-track process. It will open as an academy on Friday.

Park Hall was the only school in the region to apply for the status under the Government’s new academy bill, designed to give schools greater freedom.

Chair of governors Gerry Deakin said: “The governing body of the school felt that the extra funding and the freedom to spend that funding on the needs of the children of Park Hall was too good an opportunity to miss.”

Academy status means that companies, philanthropists and charities can contribute millions of pounds towards a school in return for control.