GOVERNORS, staff and parents are supporting a controversial academy to replace Fartown High School.

But they have stressed the need to find a sponsor without a narrow political or religious agenda to run the state-of-the-art school.

A consultation period has now ended on the future of Fartown and Rawthorpe High Schools, which both have falling roll numbers.

And a report is due to be presented to Kirklees Cabinet tomorrow detailing the results.

The two-part document details the outcome of the first stage consultation exercise on the future of both schools.

And in the Fartown area the report shows strong support, particularly from the governing body for the establishment of an academy on a new site within the area.

With the government's flagship academy schools, in return for a small proportion of the start-up cash, a business, religious or voluntary group is given a large say in the running of academy schools.

In Rawthorpe the consultation period has revealed strong support from parents, governors and the community for an all-through 0 to 16 school to serve the whole community.