After months of protest and more than a year of uncertainty, Twydall Primary School has now become an academy.

The school, in Twydall Lane, became part of the Rainham Mark Education Trust last week.

Due to government legislation, when the school was put into special measures by Ofsted in May 2014, it had to go through the process of becoming an academy.

But parents did not agree with the Department for Education’s initial choice of sponsor, the Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT), which runs Rochester Grammar, All Faiths in Strood and New Horizons in Chatham.

Parents did not believe it was right for the school, which has provisions for a large number of special needs pupils and is an area TSAT is unproven in.

Despite threats from Lord Nash, the parliamentary under secretary for schools, to remove the governors, they voted against the trust last February, after which TSAT withdrew.

In June last year, the school announced they had chosen the Rainham Mark Education Trust as their sponsor.

To celebrate becoming an academy the school launched 200 balloons. Head teacher Ann Pratt also held two assemblies to explain to pupils what the changes meant.

Mrs Pratt said: “It’s an exciting time for us. It is a weight lifted off of our shoulders and now we can concentrate on working hard and helping the children achieve their education goals.”

Simon Decker, chief executive of the trust, and head teacher of Rainham Mark Grammar School, said: “We are doing all we can to help them on their journey of improvement. We’re going to share training and facilities. They are already using our new sports centre.

“Also, our specialist teachers are going in to give extra help with English, maths and science.

“Our older students will team up with the pupils from Year 4, 5 and 6 to provide some extra help with English and maths.”

Emma Hatt, speaking on behalf of campaign group PATT (Parents and Twydall Together), said: “It’s definitely the preferred outcome for the majority of the parents.”

The school will keep its name and uniform.