EDUCATION bosses have backed plans for a sixth-form at Warriner School, despite concern over its impact on other schools.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet last week approved public consultation on the expansion, to take 22 pupils from September 2013.

Supporters said the plan was vital to give pupils the choice of staying at the Bloxham school and reduce student journeys.

It would also recruit high-quality teachers that are otherwise put off by a lack of sixth-form, they said.

A consultation by the school got 52 letters of support, including Banbury and Bloxham councils, and five feeder primary schools.

Some 166 parents of Year 11 pupils also signed a petition supporting the plans, to at first include biology, chemistry and geography A-levels.

But six opposed it, including Banbury School and Chipping Norton School, which take Warriner students post-16.

There were fears it will “duplicate and fragment” courses at Banbury and Chipping Norton, which are not full, hitting exam results.

Banbury School and Oxford & Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) are only two to three miles from Warriner, they said.

A county council report said the Warriner plans would “enhance and expand existing offers of A-Level subjects” in the area.

Courses would be replicated but pupil rolls will rise, creating extra demand as housing developments come forward, they said.

And it said a partnership between Warriner and OCVC would fill “gaps” in subjects.

Warriner headteacher Dr Annabel Kay has said the sixth-form is likely to go in temporary buildings, which last about 60 years, on land by its library.

The county council is expected to contribute £500,000 from a pot of cash from contributions by developers of other projects.