Secret plans to build a new primary school in Banbury have been discussed by councillors, Government officials, governors and teachers.

A report by Michael Hill, education officer at Oxfordshire County Council, was presented to Banbury Town Council behind closed doors last week (beginning May 5).

Members of the general services and resources committees considered plans to move Orchard Fields School into new buildings on land next to Bradley Arcade in Princess Diana Park, Bretch Hill.

The move has the support of the Department for Education and Skills and the new buildings are the preferred option to redeveloping the existing Orchard Fields site.

Mr Hill's report stated that details of the scheme were currently known only to education authority officers, the chairman of Orchard Field governors, the headteacher, and some councillors.

A presentation of the plans to other governors was due to be made a few days after the secret meeting.

Mr Hill's report said: "There is a need to balance getting on with preparatory work without raising expectations until funding has been secured. However, the agreement of the town council is essential if the plan can proceed."

Mr Hill said a legal agreement would be required between the town council and the county council for a land swap.

The present Orchard Fields School consists of the former Neithrop Junior and Neithrop Infants schools, and the Sunshine Centre.

Neithrop Junior was closed in 2001 after a long period in special measures.

The school had suffered long periods of vandalism and chronic teacher shortages.

The infants school was expanded to form Orchard Fields Primary School and mobile classrooms were installed to keep pupils on one site. The former junior building is rarely used.

The proposed new school to be built at Princess Diana Park has been designated a 'fresh start' school and will get extra funding from the DfES. Exact funding details have not been revealed.

Alternative options to the new school included the redevelopment the existing infants school, extending the former junior buildings, or erecting a new building on the old junior site.

Those options were said to involve high costs and would involve building problems.

Mr Hill's report said the Princess Diana Park plan had been discussed with a DfES architect who supported the idea in principle. He said the new buildings could also accommodate the Sunshine Centre.