THREE Somerset primary schools are set to become academies.

The Church of England schools include Churchfield Primary School in Highbridge, St John and St Francis Primary School in Bridgwater and Archbishop Cranmer Primary School in Taunton.

They have been given the green light by Somerset County Council to become academies by April 2013.

The Diocese of Bath and Wells is reportedly setting up a trust to assist with governing the schools once they are outside the local education authority's control.