Proposals to turn two secondary schools into new academies have taken a step forward as notices of proposed closures have been published and governors are interviewing for new headteachers.

Public notices were placed in last weeks Witham and Braintree Times on behalf of The Rickstones School and John Bramston School, both in Witham.

Both notices were about the proposed closure of the schools which is intended to happen on August 31 if the green light is given by Essex County Council for the schools to become academies.

The notices are part of the statutory process which also included three consultations last month to discuss the proposals.

The proposals are to close both Witham secondary schools and reopen them on September 1 as new academies as part of a strategy to partner Rickstones and John Bramston with Greensward College in Hockley to "raise educational standards in Essex."

Mike Barnett, a spokesman for the academy project, said interviews were taking place this week for the position of principal at both schools.

This is because Terry Canty, headteacher at The Rickstones School, is set to retire later this year and Mike O' Sullivan, headteacher at John Bramston School, is an interim headteacher.

The notices state that any objections and comments need to be made within six weeks of the notices being published which means before May 22.