Governors at Diss High School hope to gain academy status by September after deciding to go ahead with an application following a consultation.

Proposals to become an academy had prompted concern from some staff and teaching unions.

However, the board of governors said they were committed to observing current pay and conditions after deciding that the school should become an academy.

The process towards achieving academy status is underway with the Department for Education and the school hopes to open as an academy next term, said chairman of governors Tony Billett.

In a letter to parents, he said: 'We anticipate no change in the day to day running of the school. We look forward to an increased income and the capacity to retain our current curriculum.'

The application comes after the coalition government changed the criteria to allow 'outstanding' and 'good' wishing to become academies. The specialist humanities college was rated 'good' in its last Ofsted inspection in 2008.