TWO village schools have lodged official paperwork to become academies.

Both Beckley CE Primary School and Sutton Courtenay CE Primary School are converting to the academy model, according to forms published by Ofsted on Friday.

This means the schools will relinquish Oxfordshire County Council's control and be taken on by academy trusts instead.

Sutton Courtenay joined the Ridgeway Education Trust on April 1, which also runs Didcot Girls' School and St Birinus School in Didcot.

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Its latest newsletter to parents said: "It feels strange that the conversion is now finally official, as we have been feeling very much part of the Ridegeway family for the past year anyway.

"We know that this strong local trust will provide what the school needs going forwards and that the children, who are after all the reason we are here, will continue to benefit.

"As you know from the media, these are very challenging times for schools. We need all the expertise we can get to maximise our resources and work together."

The letter added that the trust had already offered 'incredible support.'

Beckley joined the River Learning Trust on the same date, which runs 20 other schools.

A newsletter circulated to parents last week said the school team is 'delighted' to become part of the trust.