Oxford University's refusal to 'adopt' academies such as the school planned to replace Peers is another sign the new school will fail, campaigners have claimed.

The Government has been pushing top universities to support new city academies - but in a statement issued yesterday Oxford University distanced itself from institutions such as the new school to be built in Littlemore.

A spokesman said: "The University of Oxford strongly supports the goal of raising aspirations for all young people.

"Through our PGCE programme, we work closely with a network of 30 local schools and, although we would certainly consider strengthening these relationships, we would be reluctant to be formally associated with a single school."

Dona Velluti, from the Oxfordshire branch of the Anti Academies Alliance (AAA), said the university was wise to distance itself. She said: "Results show that becoming academies have either made no improvement, little improvement, or that the schools have actually gone backwards.

"In refusing to support the academy, Oxford University clearly doesn't want to be involved with something that might fail."

But Michael Waine, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for school improvement, said: "There has been no difficulty in attracting sponsors for these academies."

He added: "One academy is already established in Banbury, the North Oxfordshire Academy, with the prospect of another academy opening in Oxford in September 2008 on the site of Peers school, for which Oxford Brookes University is one of the sponsors.

The Anti Academies Alliance is opposed to schools being sponsored by private businesses.

Ms Velluti said: "Just creating a new building isn't going to turn Peers School around.

"Creating an academy is simply giving public money over to private control."