Oxfordshire County Council has appointed London-based HKR Architects to work on the controversial Academy at Peers School in Littlemore.
The building of the Christian school, which is sponsored by Oxford Brookes University and the Diocese of Oxford, will be publicly funded and is the largest education project in the Oxford diocese for more than 25 years.
The Oxfordshire Anti Academies Alliance have opposed the plan, fearing it will lead to "back door privatisation of education".
HKR has designed the school around two courtyards, the first being the public face with community sports facilities, auditorium and library.
The second courtyard houses classrooms and other facilities.
Lead architect Simon Innes said: "This has been an exciting project for us because the client and sponsor have great experience and strong, imaginative views on the future of education.
"The project will provide a vital improvement in an area that has suffered many disadvantages".
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article