EDUCATION chiefs will today tell parents they are pushing ahead with plans for the city’s second academy after finding a new backer.

Oxfordshire County Council’s controversial plans for an academy at Oxford School suffered a blow two months ago when initial sponsor the United Learning Trust pulled out.

However, educations bosses insist they are right to pursue the scheme – today announcing CfBT Education Trust as the lead sponsor – as change is the only way to reverse the year-on- year falling pupil roll at the East Oxford school.

The authority has also revealed it intends to install a countywide hub for English teaching at the academy, which would also be used to boost literacy rates at the school, where a high proportion of pupils speak English as a second language.

ULT, a Christian educational charity, pulled out of the project in December after a disappointing Ofsted report for one of its academies in Sheffield.

CfBT, an education and teacher training consultancy based in Reading, is also lead sponsor St Marks Church of England Academy in Mitcham, Surrey.

Michael Waine, county cabinet member for school improvement, said the proposed opening date had now slipped back three months from September to January 2011.

Mr Waine said: “We have revisited all the other options on moving forward with the school and this is still our preferred option.

“Our main aim is we want to establish Oxford School as the first choice for parents in the local community to send their children to.

“At the moment this isn’t the case. The school needs a structural change and the only option that gives us that change is the academy.

“We want an academy that will offer excellence to students particularly in English.

“The school serves one of the most diverse communities in the county and the needs of that diversity have to be met.”

In choosing CfBT the council selected a secular lead sponsor to allay parents’ concerns about the lack of choice had Oxford School converted into the city’s third secondary school with a Christian ethos.

In a letter sent to all parents with children at the school today, the council will reveal it is also co-sponsoring the academy along with Oxford and Cherwell Valley College.

The news comes after the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls and schools’ minister Vernon Coaker, signed a “Statement of Intent” – the first stage in restarting the academy process.

Informal meetings will be set up over the next two months to hear the views of parents and staff and to outline plans for the academy.

Mr Waine said the council still had the long-term aim of establishing an all-through academy for three to 19-year-olds on the site.

However, the immediate aim was to establish an academy at the school in Glanville Road for 11 to 19-year-olds.