Governors at Parkwood High School, serving the Shirecliffe and Burngreave areas, began discussions yesterday about the possibility of sponsorship from educational charity Edutrust.

If the bid is successful, the specialist language and sport school would become an independent academy funded directly by the Government, aided by a grant of up to £2m from the sponsor organisation.

The school, where 37 per cent of pupils get five or more GCSEs, would get guidance and support from Edutrust, which runs a number of non-faith-based, multi-cultural academies across the country.

Headteacher Chris Mallaband said: "Over the last two years we have become increasingly successful, with exam results among the best in north Sheffield.

"However, we know that to keep improving will be a challenge unless we do things differently. The opportunities provided through an academy could be just the thing to take Parkwood to a new level."

A panel of governors from primary schools and colleges, current and future parents, and council members will meet to make recommendations about the future of the school.

Interested residents can take part in the consultation by completing a questionnaire, going to a drop-in session at the school from 4.30pm to 6pm on December 20 or turning up to the public meetings at the school on January 10 and Burngreave Vestry Hall on January 15.