Secondary schools across Richmond are looking for help deciding whether to break away from tradition and become self-controlled academies instead of council-led schools.

Three schools in the borough have already made the switch; becoming Twickenham, Hampton and Richmond academies, and the area’s remaining five secondary schools are now contemplating their own futures.

Teddington School’s headteacher, Richard Weeks, said it was important to explore all options.

He said: “There are already three academies in Richmond, and an increasing number of successful schools in neighbouring boroughs have converted to academy status. More than 40 per cent of secondary schools nationally are already academies or have applied to convert.

“In Richmond, the council is encouraging schools to convert, and is transforming itself to take advantage of similar freedoms. It is therefore right that we explore whether to convert, and whether it would help ensure increasing success for our students in the future.”

All five remaining council-led schools are undergoing consultation with parents, staff and governors about whether to convert to academies.

The consultation will end on Friday, October 21, for Christ’s, Grey Court, Teddington and Waldegrave schools, and Friday, October 28, for Orleans Park.

According to the Department for Education, academy status allowed schools freedom to adapt the way they deliver the national curriculum, to vary teachers’ pay and conditions, to change length of school days and terms and created greater budget control.

Councillor Paul Hodgins, Richmond’s cabinet member for schools, said he was pleased to see schools consulting.

He said: “The decision is ultimately down to the school but we are very supportive of it [academies] and are promoting it. We believe in school independence and of them having more control over their budget and a clearer line of accountability for both schools and the community.

“Our general approach on all schools is to give them a wider amount of independence and this just builds on where we are at the moment.”

Despite the consultation, headteachers maintained no decision had yet been made.

Philippa Nunn, from Waldegrave School for Girls’, said: “It is important to emphasise that no school has made a decision to convert. Governors want to hear the views of parents and carers, of staff, of students, and of other interested people and organisations so that all relevant issues are considered before a decision is made.

“No school would decide to convert unless the governing body, which includes staff and parents, believes that it is in the best interests of their particular school.”

The council confirmed if schools were to switch to academies the council would still have a statutory responsibility to ensure there are enough school places and would continue to work with academies closely, if and when needed, to address this issue.