Secondary schools were last night encouraged to split from county council control as another school launched a bid for academy status.

Melinda Tilley, council member for schools improvement, issued a “go for it” challenge as Eynsham’s Bartholomew School said it wanted to become an academy.

It is the first West Oxfordshire school to apply for the status which would mean it could break away from County Hall control.

There are already five Academies in the county, but a number of others are now believed to be considering the move.

Ms Tilley said: “I think the academies are going to get more money from central Government and if I were them I would go for it.”

Andrew Hamilton, head of Bartholomew School in Eynsham, said: “We are in a situation where the level of services that we have access to is reducing greatly. Having that additional freedom over funds means we would be able to continue to access those services.”

He said county council funding for careers advice service Connexions, which is based at the school, will end in April 2012.

Academies receive funding directly from the Government, instead of through the council, and have greater control of budgets, staffing and curriculum.

They are designed to give greater freedom to exceptional schools and differ from old-style academies, which were designed to improve failing schools.

Mr Hamilton added: “If everything goes positively with the consultation and the governors decide they’re going to continue to seek academy status, and if the Government gives approval, we would look to become an academy on March 1 next year.”

Sue Croft, principal of Oxford Academy, said: “I think people are beginning to see the advantage of the freedom that comes with academy status. It seems to be a natural progression and I see no reason why there should not be more.

“There have also been some key and major services that have been cut, which I imagine has led to schools considering applications.”

Other schools considering the move include Chipping Norton School, which is launching a consultation into the plans.

Headteacher Simon Duffy said: “At the moment there is compelling evidence that becoming an academy would give us financial freedom to provide better services, but we wanted to look closely at the views of other people before making a decision.”

Ms Tilley added: “We’ve got four or five in the pipeline but it’s not what you would call a flood.

“The feeling I get from schools is very mixed.”

Hanwell Fields Community School in Banbury and Gillots School in Henley-on-Thames recently lodged applications.

Banbury School and Dashwood Primary School will become academies next month.