THE first steps were made yesterday to close Oxford School and turn it into the city’s second academy, despite opposition from parents.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet agreed to publish a statutory notice for the closure of the school in Glanville Road, setting the wheels in motion for the academy.

It now looks increasingly likely Oxford’s second academy will open in January 2011, although the public have another six weeks to comment on the plans.

The move was a blow to opponents of the scheme, who said the decision was “disappointing”.

Frank Newhofer, the school’s former chairman of governors, said: “This is what happens when politicians make decisions without attending to the evidence they are given.

“I think it was typical of people who do not understand education and the way schools work or the way standards improve.”

The proposed academy is being sponsored by the CfBT Education Trust, working in partnership with Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and the county council.

It would take up to 1,050 children aged from 11 to 19, with a 250-place sixth form, and would specialise in English and business and enterprise.

During yesterday’s meeting, councillors were presented with the results from a consultation, which took place between June 7 and July 19.

It showed that of the 74 people who responded to a council questionnaire, only 15 agreed with the proposal.

A further 58 were against the academy, pointing to issues like a possible lack of accountability and cost.

Meanwhile, a petition against the plan of 599 signatures was presented to the council.

But the majority of councillors registered their support for turning the school into an academy.

Michael Waine, cabinet member for schools improvement, said: “Every effort was made to reach all the groups within the community, particularly parents with children at the school.

“Parents are the key to this. At the moment, they are voting with their feet by not applying to this school as their first choice.”

He added: “The school has made improvements, and they are to be applauded, but there is still a massive gap with the rest of Oxfordshire.

“We have the opportunity to make this not only a good school, but the first school of choice for that community.”

But parent Ian Bellchambers, 42, said: “I am really not surprised by the decision, it had a certain air of inevitability about it, as the council have been pursuing the plans for a year.

“But I am disappointed they ignored the consultation results, which overwhelmingly opposed the plans. I just hope the new sponsors will actively encourage parental involvement and establish much-needed relationships with other schools.”

Larry Sanders, Green county councillor for East Oxford, said: “It is an appalling decision, they have not listened to parents, teachers, or the community, all of whom were opposed to this. The council also have no evidence that academies improve standards, as last year Oxford School had the best value-added results in the county.”

Another cabinet meeting will be held in late autumn and, if agreed, the opening date for the academy would be January 2011.