HEADTEACHERS in Oxfordshire last night said they had more questions than answers over Government plans to transform schools into Academies.

The Oxford Mail revealed on Saturday a list of five primary schools and nine secondary schools across the county, which had registered their interest in the scheme.

Academies form a major part of the coalition Government’s education reforms, which would free schools from local education authority control.

But headteachers in Oxfordshire said they had made the move to learn more about the scheme and needed answers before deciding to go ahead.

Fitzharrys School in Abingdon, St Birinus School in Didcot, and Faringdon Community College have all expressed interest in changing their status, but the three headteachers insisted no decisions had been made.

Fitzharrys head Susan Tranter said governors would keep “a working brief” on whether it was right for the school.

Chris Bryan, who is retiring as headteacher at Didcot’s 1,260-pupil boys’ school next month, said he wanted more information about potential financial advantages.

He said: “It is at a very early stage, and the governors certainly have not committed to going down this route.

“Their view was that they did not know enough, and there was not sufficient information to make any decision. The only way to find out more was to express an interest.”

The programme, which gives schools greater independence and paves the way for partnerships with public and private organisations, is not without its critics.

The formation of Oxford Academy, formely Peers School, was the subject of a public protest campaign.

North Oxfordshire Academy, in Banbury, is the county’s second academy, while a consultation is being carried out over plans to change Oxford School.

Faringdon Community College, Oxfordshire’s best performing school in last year’s GCSE exams, could be fast-tracked to become an academy by September, because it was rated “outstanding” by Ofsted.

But headteacher Dave Wilson said: “At this point in time, we have more questions than answers. It is definitely on our agenda, but we are not moving forwards until we know more.

“It would be an opportunity to be more innovative, with more control over our destiny, our curriculum and our finances.”

Cheney, Cherwell and Gosford Hill schools all failed to return the Oxford Mail’s calls.

THE 14 Oxfordshire schools that have shown an interest in becoming academies are: PRIMARIES - Appleton; Stanton Harcourt; Dashwood, Banbury; Rush Common; Thomas Reade, Abingdon

SECONDARIES - Cherwell and Cheney in Oxford; Banbury; Bartholomew, Eynsham; Faringdon Community College; Langtree School, Woodcote; Fitzharrys, Abingdon; Gosford Hill, Kidlington; St Birinus, Didcot.