HEADINGTON could see a new influx of students, after plans were announced to move an international school to the area.

Abacus College, formerly known as St Aldates College, is hoping to relocate from its headquarters in Threeways House, George Street. It has submitted a planning application to move to Victory House, above Londis at 116-120 London Road.

The small independent school, which has between 120 and 150 students, hopes to change two floors of the offices, which have been empty since November 2010, to educational use.

The college, which is run as a not-for-profit organisation, has long been established in the city, teaching GCSE and A-Level courses to international students. It was based in Rose Place from 1968 to 1989, and moved to 77 George Street for three years.

The college name was changed to Abacus College when it moved into Threeways House in 1992.

Bursar Jennifer Carrington said: “Businesses need to adapt and change according to current needs.

“Our present building no longer fulfils our needs so we are looking to move.

“Although we have always occupied a city centre location this time we could not find anything suitable.”

Abacus includes the Oxford Language Centre, which will also relocate from Threeways House if the planning application is successful.

Acting principal Dr Roy Carrington said: “The classrooms are not quite what we need in the current building so we are looking around to get a building that meets our needs better.”

“We want to offer our students a good education and a nice experience. “We are very pleased that so far there have been no objections to our moving.”

A decision on the planning application is expected to be made today.