CHICKERELL Primary School has become the first stand-alone primary school in Dorset to convert to an academy.

Principal Jody Harris said the change, which frees Chickerell from local authority control, will give the school more financial and educational autonomy.

The sign at the 368-pupil school has been changed to ‘Chickerell Primary Academy’ and parents had the option to buy a new uniform with a new logo.

Miss Harris, who has been at the school for two years, said the conversion to academy status was 12 to 15 months in the making.