IT was just under four years ago that Bromyard rallied to save its secondary school from closure.

Nearly a quarter of the town gathered in Queen Elizabeth Humanities College in a massive show of support.

But now the end is in sight – and the future has never looked brighter for one of the county's best-performing schools.

Bromyard says goodbye to its college on December 1 and hello to Herefordshire’s newest academy.

The school received its academy order last week to complete an amazing reversal of fortune.

The move, agreed following a governors’ vote early this year means greater curricular freedom to the high-flying school.

It also means direct funding from central government and more control over the school budget, pay and conditions.

Headteacher Dr Michael Goodman, one of those worried faces in the hall in January 2008, is now very much all smiles.

His school’s GCSE results were among the best in the county, with 96 per cent of students getting five or more good grades.

“One of our members of staff worked for the academy conversion unit so we had a bit of head start,” said Dr Goodman.

“We have really picked up steam over the past two years and becoming an academy is the next big step forward.

"It will give us considerable freedom in many things but we will continue our close links with the local authority.

“I’ve got to say it has been a good couple of months and we are really hopeful of a good intake next year".

The school’s increased popularity showed last week when it staged a second open evening to meet demand.

Students also raised £400 for a Red Arrow charity mission when pilots cycled through the town last week.