ONE of Southampton’s new academies accounted for more than one third of the pupils permanently excluded from city secondary schools in the past year.

The city council has revealed that 11 pupils have been expelled from Oasis Academy Mayfield since it opened in September – almost three times as many as any other school.

It also suspended at least 180 pupils – among the highest number of any school.

The academy, formed from the merger of Woolston and Grove Park schools, hit the headlines when pupils went on a rampage in the corridors in protest at the way the school way being run.

The crisis culminated in the shock resignation in November of principal Ruth Johnson – who was criticised by unions for running the academy like a failing school – and the news that scores of teachers had handed in their notice to quit.

The Christian charity which runs the school has now confirmed acting principal John Toland as Mrs Johnson’s permanent replacement.

Oasis founder Steve Chalke said that Mr Toland, who was drafted in to sort out the problems at the academy, had already made a “hugely positive impact”.

The academy says that students are now enjoying lessons more, with improved attainment, and that there has been a “major improvement”

in communication with schools leaders.

City councillor Peter Baillie, who has been criticised for taking the decision to allow Oasis to set up the new school, said: “Since Mr Toland has been in the role of acting principal, I have been encouraged by reports that have led to a stabilising of the academy in many ways.”

Asked to comment on the council exclusion figures, Oasis said that while there had been ten permanent exclusions in the first term of the academic year, there had been no further permanent exclusions during the past three months.