FULL details of a proposed new school in Banbury have been unveiled in a bid to attract a sponsor to run it.

Yesterday Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for education Steve Harrod approved the detailed specification for the new school in Southam Road.

Under Government rules, new schools must be either free schools or academies so the council is now seeking someone to come forward and agree to open the Banbury site by September 2019.

It is needed to cater for children who will live in a 600-home development in the area, as well as those expected to move into 7,000 homes planned for Banbury by 2031.

Council director for children's services Lucy Butler revealed the proposed specification for the school in a document seen by Mr Harrod before he made his decision.

She said it will cater for children from three to 11 years old and will have 30 children in each year.

There will also be a 26-place nursery.

Ms Butler said: "The specification includes six places reserved for specialist resourced provision for children with communication and interaction needs – such as autism and speech and language difficulties – physical or sensory needs.

"The school's catchment is expected to be primarily the Southam Road strategic development area, but will draw from a wider area to meet population pressures in the north of Banbury."

Despite not being allowed to open schools any more, the county council is still responsible for planning for school places and making sure there are enough.

Potential sponsors, such as multi-academy trusts that run other schools in Oxfordshire, will now be invited to submit expressions of interest to run the new school.

A shortlist will then be drawn up, with sponsors who make it to that stage asked to submit a detailed proposal by September.

A preferred sponsor could then be approved in November.

Banbury town county councillor Kieron Mallon said: "Banbury is expanding and we need extra places now and in the future.

"The fact that the county council has been keeping ahead of the game on this is good news.

"In the most recent round of primary school applications more than 93 per cent of pupils got their first choice school.

"The fact that the county council is keeping pace with development in the town is a good thing."