Two of the borough's finest schools are set to merge to form a 'multi academy trust' ahead of the new school year.

The merger between Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls will come into effect on September 1 following a consultation period with staff and parents.

The schools, based at opposite ends of the borough, will form a "multi academy trust" after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan gave the plan the green light.

Trusts link two or more schools together to share staffing resources, teaching practice and cut down on economic budgets by providing centralised services.

Both Nonsuch and Wallington were graded as being good with outstanding elements by Ofsted in their last inspections.

The two schools applied to become academies in 2010 and teach about 1,200 and 1,300 girls respectively.

Both schools will have a head teacher, who will work under Jane Burton, current headteacher at Wallington and previously a deputy headteacher at Nonsuch, who will take on the role of executive head.

It is also expected that a newly formed joint partnership group will have an equal number of members from each school on the new board of trustees that will work alongside Mrs Burton.

After both schools agreed to the merger they informed Sutton Council on the decision.

Sutton Council will continue to play no active role in the everyday running of the schools.

Councillor Wendy Mathys, chairwoman of the children, family and education committee, said that despite Sutton Council not being involved in the running of the two academies she did feel it was a good move for both schools.

She said: "Both Nonsuch and Wallington are excellent schools, so a merger between them could prove to be beneficial.

"Sutton Council has a very limited input into the two schools, but we welcome the merger and I would imagine that parents of children at the schools would see it as a good move.

"It is always good for Sutton when our schools work together to deliver a better education for their pupils."