SOUTH Craven School could be independent of North Yorkshire Local Education Authority by the end of January 2005.

Governors are currently in discussions over the move for the Cross Hills school to obtain foundation status.

They will put their views forward in September this year and there will then be six weeks for further representation.

The School Organisation Committee of North Yorkshire will then make a decision.

Headteacher Andrew Cummings said he no longer wanted to continue with the "status quo" under North Yorkshire LEA.

He said the school needed to lead its own development, instead of "waiting for other people to decide how it will be done".

He added: "The school would see a general change in culture, in terms of instead of just going to the local education authority, we can go to the best providers we can find for our school."

If given foundation status, governors would take control of the school with regards to employment, maintaining and developing the site and admissions.

Mr Cummings said the school - the first in the country to attain technology and engineering specialist status - had "faced long-term issues of serving a catchment area across two local authority areas".

He explained: "Admissions in Craven were changed last year, across the school community. In the selective area, some places don't go to local children and we have to ensure South Craven School remains a thriving and successful comprehensive.

"Admissions at the school would not change straight away, that would have to be consulted on separately. But, by being responsible for our own admissions, we have the power to react."

Head of education, policy and development at North Yorkshire County Council, Bernadette Jones, said: "The local education authority has been consulted by South Craven School about foundation status.

"This would mean that the school would become responsible for the premises, the employment of the staff and admission arrangements.

"We have written to the school seeking clarification about these issues. In particular, we are concerned that revised admission arrangements should not disadvantage pupils in the current South Craven catchment area. We await the governors' response."