PROPOSALS to turn Oxford Community School into the city's first foundation school have been given the go-ahead.

Following a six-week consultation period, governors have decided to push forward with the transformation in the autumn.

Chairman of governors Frank Newhofer said the governing body had made the decision unanimously at a meeting last week - with an implementation date of September 1.

Foundation status would give the headteacher and governors greater control over pupil admissions, teacher recruitment and the school's buildings and grounds.

OCS is the city's first foundation school - and only the third in the county.

Ten years ago, education watchdogs deemed OCS in Granville Road to have "serious weaknesses".

Three years later the school - which is made up of 50 per cent black and ethnic minority pupils - was judged to have improved.

Headteacher Steve Lunt said foundation status would mean the school would continue to be funded by the county council, but that it would have "greater autonomy and flexibility".

Mr Newhofer played down the significance of the change.

He said: "Foundation schools remain local authority schools.

"They are simply another category of school.

"They are not academies and they are not independent.

"It gives us more flexibility, but I don't think the word independent is quite right, and I don't think it's a big change for the school."

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said education officers would continue to work closely with the school.

Council leader Keith Mitchell said: "It gives the school more freedom to manage its own affairs, which is great because every school is different."