The 10 decision-makers who will vote on whether the controversial Peers Academy in Oxford gets the go-ahead have been told they must visit one that is already up-and-running.

Peers School, in Littlemore, is set to be scrapped and replaced with a city academy - the first in Oxfordshire - in September. Although Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet has agreed in principle to the idea, no final decision has yet been made.

And last night it emerged that only one of the 10 had actually visited a working academy.

The Oxford Mail asked all members of the policy-making cabinet whether they had visited an academy. Just three bothered to reply and only one, Michael Waine - the cabinet member for schools improvement - said he had.

Jean Fooks, a member of the county council's top level children's scrutiny committee, was so concerned at the cabinet's apparent lack of knowledge concerning academies that she urged them to visit one.

Consequently, the meeting at which the decision to close Peers was set to be taken has been postponed until January, after an official visit to Northampton Academy, which has only just been arranged. Ms Fooks said: "It's a very big decision and the cabinet seems to have accepted it with very few questions. We know there are concerns.

"We would very much prefer schools to be part of the local authority family rather than being given a different provision.

"I appreciate it looks like the only way of accessing money, but there are a number of outstanding questions given that a number of people have reservations about it.

"This visit should have happened a long time ago, but it was only because I requested this at children's service scrutiny committee it has happened. At the very least we need to be going into this with our eyes wide open."

The cabinet members who did not reply to our questions were: Keith Mitchell, Ian Hudspeth, Judith Heathcoat, Louise Chapman, John Howell, David Robertson and Roger Belson.

Mr Waine said: "Given that I carry the portfolio for schools improvement, I felt it part of my role to visit an academy so that I could be as fully informed as possible. This has enabled me to give informed advice and information to cabinet colleagues."

Charles Shouler, the cabinet member for finance, said: "I probably know as much or more about academies as you do. I am, however, visiting Northampton Academy on December 10."

Fellow county councillor Jim Couchman added: "I have visited the existing Peers School site and recognise the urgent need for a complete rebuild."

Earlier this year, worried parents of children studying at Peers said they did not know enough about the plan for an academy, with the Diocese of Oxford the main sponsor.

Consultants distributed 4,000 information brochures to homes in the Peers catchment area - but just 22 responses were received.

Parents' concerns came as a poll of all 48 Oxford city councillors revealed just 14 were in favour of the idea. We asked whether they supported the plans and 27 said no - with some saying the idea was akin to "blackmail", to get money for infrastructure improvements.

The councillors who did not reply to our questions were: Keith Mitchell, Ian Hudspeth, Judith Heathcoat, Louise Chapman, John Howell, David Robertson and Roger Belson.

Jim Couchman said he had visited Peers School; Charles Shouler said he would go to Northampton Academy. Michael Waine confirmed he had been to an academy already.