The end of this academic year sees Bushey Hall School closing its doors for the final time, reopening in September under the guise of Bushey Academy.

Bushey is the county's second academy, a publically funded school which is independent from local authorities.

David Meller and Sir John Lawes in Harpenden are among the sponsors who are helping to pave the way to a new future for the school's 600 something students.

All pupils currently attending the school will be automatically transfered to the academy's register, but today the new Year seven intake got to meet their new teachers, year head and most importantly, principal incumbent Andy Hemmings.

Mr Hemmings joined as assistant head and later applied to become the new principal. He lives in St Albans and often cycles to the school.

He said: "I've been appointed to do the best I can for the students of Bushey Academy. There will be fundamental changes in staff, curriculum, pastoral care, uniform and crucially in attitude. It's very much old site, new school.

"We're ready for change. This is something new and the feeling is very positive."

Understanding the changes requires learning some new terms. The academy strongly believes in the advantage of "vertical tutoring", where, unlike traditional form groups made up of one year group, the form is made up of two or three students from each year.

Sandra Stevens, assistant principal, said: "With vertical tutoring there is less bullying and better relationships, where the older students feel like they should look after the younger ones."

"Assertive mentoring" is another concept. It involves four non-teaching heads of year which will each look after 160 students. They will look at the academic needs of the student and give support where necessary.

Mr Hemmings said: "In the academy it will be impossible for students to fall behind without someone noticing and taking action.

"People are not all the same, we respond to the needs of the students. We are not here to make them fit into our model, we're here to make our model fit them."

New buildings and facilities are high on the list too in order to provide space and structure to the new ethos.

Mr Hemmings said: "There will be a three year building phase starting in September, in conjuction with the students and community. The hall itself is going nowhere of course.

"In the library we're building a student board room. One of our governors is from Marks and Spencer and another is from Haberdashers so the students can meet them there and ask questions."

There will also be a new internet cafe, a television studio, new student seating areas and entrance. The television studio in particular is part of the new business and communication course being taught to year sevens and eights, where they will have the chance to make their own programmes.

In order to cut all previous ties with the old school, the uniform has also been changed. Mr Hemmings said: "The students decided the colour scheme in a consultation process. The new motto will be displayed on it: 'Proud to belong' and so they should be."

The idea of consulting students about the school that they will ultimately use is a brave new idea that not only Mr Hemmings said: "People will feel good coming here because they are valued."

In terms of attitude, the academy has drafted in Human Utopia, who describe themselves as "a people first development company" in order to reinforce the community spirit at the academy.

Mr Hemmings said: "They point out to people what it means to be a part of society, the students responded so positively to them."

A team of "heroes" from Human Utopia helped the transition of the new Year 6 intake at the open day today.

James, one of the group, said: "Before I became a hero I was a very negative person than nobody wanted to help. The kids are all having fun, when they come to the school they know it's a happy place."

Criticisms levelled at the status suggest that by working independently from the local authority, academies are less accountable by the locally-elected council and parents have less say in the way that they are run and governed.

Mr Hemmings is keen to diffuse this though and said: "We want the academy to be involved in the community as much as possible. To be at the centre of the community, not on the sidelines. We also want to maintain the links between Sir John Lawes School and the local authority."

The NUT have also argued that by enriching one school with public money, it disadvantages those around it. Mr Hemmings said: "We just want to provide the highest possible achievement in the best possible environment."

Only time will tell if the new status will help the school shed its outdated reputation, but the work currently being done is a huge leap in the right direction.