PEOPLE living in Banbury are to be consulted on controversial plans to transform the town's Drayton School into a £20m academy backed by private sponsors.

Independent educational consultant Dame Jocelyn Barrow will this week begin seeking views on the ethos, governance, specialities, admissions policy and community links of the proposed academy, which could replace the low-performing secondary school from September 2007.

Banbury Academy would be a co-educational state-funded school for 1,200 young people, aged between 11 and 19, run by education charity United Learning Trust (ULT) with financial backing from The Vodafone UK Foundation.

The consultation will involve interviews with local primary schools, parents, residents and businesses as well as a series of public meetings.

Results from the consultation will be considered by ULT and Oxfordshire County Council before the Secretary of State for Education is asked to approve the plans.

Dame Jocelyn said: "I hope that local people parents, residents and local businesses will get involved in shaping the proposed new academy.

"This is a great opportunity to create an excellent new academy for all local children.

"I want to make sure that the whole community has a chance to say how it should develop.

"As well as the proposed new facilities, the academy is expected to transform the educational and learning opportunities for students of all abilities from the surrounding area."

Keith Bartley, the council's director for children, young people and families, added: "I hope that the people of Banbury and the wider community will contribute to the consultation.

"Our partnership with the Vodafone Foundation and the United Learning Trust provides a real opportunity to improve the educational opportunities on offer in the town."

The public meetings at Drayton School, in Drayton Road, Banbury, will take place on Thursday, May 11, at 4.30pm and 7.30pm and Thursday, May 18, at 7.30pm.