What is an academy?

An academy is a state funded independent school. It owns its own assets, employs its own staff and can set its own admissions policy. It would be funded directly by the Government rather than the LEA. The government wants 200 of these schools in place by 2010. Under the scheme schools are demolished and replaced with modern buildings at an average cost of 25m.

However, it would take a number of years before this could happen as the Academy would have to bid for government money.

To become an academy a school must raise 2m from private sponsors including businesses, charities and churches, who are given a major say in the curriculum and the academy's general running. In return, the government pays the rest of the start up costs - typically up to 25million.

The sponsors are given a majority of places on the board of governors which runs the academy's trust.

What is Oasis Community Learning?

Oasis Community Learning is the governing body for all Oasis academies with its roots strongly based in Oasis UK, a charity founded in 1985 by Steve Chalke who set out to create outstanding schools' and community hubs' motivated by the Christian faith.

The organisation has sponsored academies in Enfield, Grimsby and Immingham, and will soon open academies in Bristol and Salford.

Why the changes in Southampton?

It is the culmination of a 15 month review entitled learning futures' of the city's secondary school provision. Education bosses initiated the schools' shake-up to reduce surplus places due to declining birth rates and families moving out of the city, to improve educational standards and to reduce the number of single sex schools.