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Dona Velluti is against Peers School's transformation into an academy

The Government's education watchdog has raised serious concerns about progress of plans to transform Oxford's Peers School into the city's first academy.

In a report sent to the Secretary of State for Education Ed Balls, Her Majesty's inspector of schools Paul Brooker said plans for the development of the academy were at a "relatively embryonic stage and are not as advanced as they need to be".

The academy is due to open in less than four months, and parents have told of their concern at the change.

Mr Brooker said: "The timescale set for the school's transition to an academy has been challenging and plans for the development of the academy are less well developed than might be expected.

"Students, staff and governors do not feel that they are well informed about the proposed changes and developments.

"Despite the good intentions of all parties, there remains much to be done if the academy is to make the best possible start in September, particularly in improving the quality of communication between the academy and the school."

Mr Brooker also raised concerns about admissions figures for the new academy, which is part of a £25m building project, and is sponsored by the Diocese of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University.

Figures from Oxfordshire County Council reveal that, since plans for the academy have been made public, the number of Year Seven pupils enrolling at the Littlemore school has fallen.

In September 2005, 159 Year Seven pupils enrolled compared to 92 last year and about 100 this year.

A number of parents have said they are voting with their feet and looking at other options because of doubts about the academy.

Louise McNamara, of Greater Leys, who has two children at Peers, Daniel, 16, and Darren, 13, said: "I will not be sending my six-year-old daughter there.

"I have quite a lot of concerns about the academy and I know a lot of people on the estate feel the same.

"Parents have not really been consulted at all about the decisions. It just feels like it was all decided before we were asked."

Dona Veluti, of Oxford Academy Watch, last night said she was "saddened but not surprised" by the Ofsted report.

She said: "It praises teachers for improving on the progress achieved since the school came out of special measures but it blames the academy for throwing spanners in the works."

But academy spokesman Macia Grebot said: "Change, however positive, is unsettling. As sponsors, we have made every effort to keep staff, students and the community informed and involved."

6:57am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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