PARENTS at Wallingford School will be asked how extra cash should be spent on their children after becoming an academy.

Pupils starting a new academic year yesterday were told to expect a “breath of fresh air”.

It is Oxfordshire’s fifth academy school, along with North Oxfordshire Academy in Banbury, Oxford Academy in Littlemore, King Alfred’s Specialist Sports College in Wantage and Oxford Spires Academy in East Oxford.

Headteacher Wyll Willis said a stronger focus would be provided for pupils, in the hope Oxbridge places would rise.

Mr Willis expected the switch to bring £200,000 more in the first year, which equates to four per cent of the annual budget.

He said: “It is a breath of fresh air because we are now the masters of our own destiny.

The secondary school, in St George’s Road, has 1,134 pupils aged 11 to 18, and about 200 members of staff.

The Department for Education awarded academy status in July.

The school, now run by a board of trustees, is funded directly by the Government and can set its own curriculum and terms of employment for staff.

Mr Willis added: “We can now determine the needs of pupils in Wallingford and can ask parents what they think extra money should be spent on.

“We would like to provide a stronger focus on the needs of gifted pupils in terms of classes, trips and mentoring.”

This year’s A-level results were the “best ever”, said Mr Willis, with 60 per cent of pupils getting A*-B grades; a three per cent rise on the previous best in 2009.

At GCSE, results improved for the fifth year, with 61 per cent of pupils getting five A* to C grades including English and maths.

Banbury School, and Dash-wood Primary, also in Banbury, are due to convert on October 1.

Last month, the county council warned it could be left millions of pounds out of pocket by the academy programme changes.