found, appropriately enough with the school's history teacher, Adrian Targett. This is claimed to be the longest human lineage ever to be traced, and supports the theory that the Britons were descended from ancient hunter-gatherers who later turned to agriculture, rather than a from more recent wave of immigrant farmers. Technology College status Being in a rural area with few large local manufacturers, the school had some difficulty in raising the £54,000 of sponsorship necessary to gain Technology College status, but many small donations from local employers and charities enabled it to reach the target. The headmaster claimed that the process of soliciting funds helped the school to refine its focus and gave local businesses more of a stake in the school. He also stressed that the new status of Technology College would not lead to any reduction of its strength in the arts. Foundation status In 2006, the school governors voted for foundation status. Foundation status has not changed the school's Christian ethos. Academy status In May 2010, as a school judged as outstanding under the updated Ofsted inspection regime, the new Secretary of State for Education invited the school to become a new style Academy – a state-funded school that is independent of the local authority. The school's governing body voted in favour of a move to Academy status in June 2010. The academy conversion was delayed due to the actions of the Church of England and the Diocesan Board of Education, which also prevented any church schools in England from becoming academies. The school became an academy on 1 June 2011. Future In 2006, the school opened a new languages block. In January 2008, it opened a new drama building, Kings Theatre. The school obtained planning permission in 2017 for a new AstroTurf surface to enhance the sporting facilities at the academy. Kings Fitness and Leisure The sports centre opened in 1994, becoming available for the First and Middle Schools, as well as the Upper School, in the Cheddar Valley. In April 2009, the whole site was taken over by Kings of Wessex. It was previously run by Somerset County Council, but is now owned and operated by the school and has been rebranded as Kings Fitness and Leisure. The takeover follows an attempt by Sedgemoor District Council, who subsidise the swimming pool, to reduce its funding contribution to the centre by diverting money set aside for