The Oxford Mail can today reveal the grand plans to turn Peers School into the city's first flagship academy.

The Diocese of Oxford - the lead sponsor in the £25m project - has lifted the lid on its proposals for the Littlemore school, which could see it closed next summer and reopened as the Oxford Academy in September 2008.

The Government will provide £25m towards the "bricks and mortar" of the school while the sponsors - which so far include the diocese and Oxford Brookes University - would fund a £1.5m trust for educational purposes only, such as grants, courses or for school activities.

Partners in the project include BMW, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and the Open University, all of whom would give services in kind, such as vocational courses or apprenticeships.

The plans have not yet been given the green light. Public meetings are due to be held over the next fortnight for parents, staff and the public.

The outcome of these meetings and the nature of objections will determine whether the academy is given the go-ahead by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) later in the year.

Leslie Stephen, director of education at the diocese, said: "If the community welcomes the proposal, we will be able to provide a state-of-the-art brand new academy which will provide an outstanding education and first-class facilities for young people in Blackbird Leys, Littlemore, Rose Hill and the surrounding area.

"The new academy, we believe, will benefit the pupils, staff and the entire local community."

He stressed the academy was "not a done deal".

He said: "We want to hear from everyone in the community and urge them to attend one of the meetings."

Maths, information and computing technology (ICT) and sport would be the academy's specialist subjects and among the many proposals are plans to pump £1.9m into computing so that every child in every classroom has access to a laptop or PC.

A new, purpose-built school would be complete by September 2010.

Oxford Brookes University would play a key role in the academy, running an educational centre at the site which will focus on providing support for staff and students as well as research into teacher training.

One issue which has already caused concern among parents is the academy curriculum, but Mr Stephen allayed these fears, saying: "It would be very similar to Peers with all pupils taking GCSEs at 16 but there would be a wider range of subjects on offer.

"Post-16 education will see more options for students, particularly with vocational courses. BMW and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College would provide a number of vocational courses and apprenticeships. Students would be able to 'mix and match' the traditional academic subjects alongside newer vocational ones."

A principal for the academy, who would earn £100,000 a year, is being sought, as are co-sponsors.

Mr Stephen added: "Sponsors must have the same commitment and values to those that we hold.

"There are fears that a sponsor could come in from the private business sector and just take over. That won't happen.

"We are the lead sponsor and any co-sponsors must share our commitment and values."