A KENT grammar school is considering whether to “opt out” of county council control in a bid to give it greater freedom over admissions.

Governors of Highsted School in Sittingbourne are looking at becoming a foundation school after being caught up in a wrangle this summer over offering places to children who failed the 11-plus.

The school acted to to ensure it was full but were blocked by KCC from doing so after complaints from other schools.

Governors now say becoming a foundation school would put them in a better position to control admissions and could bring other benefits.

The school says that no decision will be made yet but has warned that it will not accept a re-run of the saga this year when KCC intervened to block it from offering places to those who had failed the 11-plus.

The school has around 20 spare places but has managed to head off a budget crisis, according to chairman of governors Sue Norris.

She confirmed the school was considering its options and stressed: “Foundation status is something we are looking at but I want to keep talking with the local education authority.

"The admissions side of becoming a foundation school would be helpful bu there are sorts of other implications. Whether we progress with it, I can’t say but we have a working group examining it."

Foundation schools have primary responsibility for their admissions although most work with the education authority when it comes to administering the process.

In addition, governors employs the school staff and “own” the school buildings and land.

The school says that “careful budgeting” has meant that there will be no staff cuts at the school this year in the wake of the admissions wrangle.

“We have not needed to take drastic action but I hate to think what could happen if this situation is repeated next year,” said Mrs Norris.