TODAY, Friday, April 1, Queen Elizabeth's Community College gained academy status.

The college is now no longer under Devon County Council control and is being run by a charitable company set up specifically for the purpose.

The college hopes that the move will mean more money per pupil from central government, and more freedom for staff and governors to decide the future of the school.

College principal Richard Newton Chance, said there were unlikely to be many immediately noticeable differences for staff and pupils.

He said that the college would not be changing its name and the uniform would remain the same.

He explained that in student numbers there would be a reduction in the next few years but said academy status would help balance out funding.

"In the medium term we will have more resources", he said.

He thanked staff and governors for their hard work on converting the college and setting up the Queen Elizabeth's Academy Trust, which will take on the employment of the school's 250 staff.

He added there were no immediate plans to re-examine the long-term ambition to redevelop to a single site.

He said that being an academy would help financially but the project would cost around £35 million so it would be more of a long-term aim.

"However, there are now other fundraising opportunities open to us", he added.