A PUPIL at Oxford School has designed a logo for the city’s new academy.

Kate Aries, 17, has beaten fellow art students to create the crest for the Oxford Spires Academy, which is set to open in January.

It will be emblazoned on new school uniforms that have been chosen after an online consultation with pupils.

If the academy plans are given the final go-ahead later this year, from January its 1,000 pupils will wear black trousers or skirts, white shirts and purple jumpers.

Last week, Kate saw her pencil drawing turned into a finished logo by design agency Cleverbox.

She said: “I’m really pleased that my design was selected.

“It was particularly interesting to see how it was taken from initial concept to graphic reality.”

Sue Croft, who will become principal of the new academy, said: “We’re delighted with the crispness of the design.

“Kate understood the brief fully and created the best design.”

Head of art Orla Crean said: “As a department we try to ensure that students appreciate the potential of art within society.

“Giving students real project briefs from real clients is an invaluable opportunity and one that has undoubtedly influenced Kate’s decisions about the possibility of a future career in art.”

The conversion of the Glanville Road school into an academy is being sponsored by CfBT Education Trust, working in partnership with Oxford & Cherwell Valley College and Oxfordshire County Council.

The council’s cabinet is expected to give its consent for the change to academy status at a meeting next month.

The change of status would free the school’s finances and curriculum from County Hall control.

The CfBT Education Trust has also announced it would carry out consultation on how to improve the school’s buildings.

Among its priorities are improving the performance space in the main hall, refurbishing the toilets and redecorating the main entrance and reception areas.

The trust wants to carry out much of this work in December, before the new academy opens.

Some parents have opposed the change to the school’s status, handing a petition of 599 signatures to the county council.

The county council’s executive member for schools improvement, Michael Waine, said: “We have the opportunity to make this not only a good school, but the first school of choice for that community.”