TURNING Culham’s European School into a state-funded academy would have put pupils’ education at risk, an expert close to the failed project said.

Maurizio Fantato, vice-chairman of The English Trust for European Education, said hasty preparations for the transition had prompted dozens of teachers to resign.

As reported in the Oxford Mail on Saturday, attempts to convert the European School into a 980-pupil academy collapsed less than seven months before opening, after years of complex negotiations.

The 835-pupil school, set up by the EU for children of workers at the Jet nuclear fusion project, is due to close in 2017 because too few pupils now have EU-employed parents.

The Government and Oxfordshire County Council backed plans to convert it into a multi-lingual academy, offering its unique education to hundreds of Oxfordshire youngsters.

A charity, Culham Languages and Sciences (Class), was set up to sponsor the project, led by a board chaired by former diplomat Lord Jay.

But the project collapsed when Class could not reach agreement with the European Commission over the transition.

Class refused to sign a legally binding agreement with the European School’s board of governors which would have prevented the commission board being sued by pupils or staff over any effects of the change.

The uncertainty left more than half of the school’s teachers, seconded from other EU countries, threatening to quit, as they were at risk of losing their EU-funded tax exemptions and departure allowances.

Many were unable to work at the new school under their own governments’ rules.

In a letter to the European Commission seen by the Oxford Mail, Class’s chairman Lord Jay, wrote: “The Directors of Class also shared the view that even if – which must be doubtful – a resolution of this issue can be found, it would not be possible to do so in the very short time that is available before the uncertainty over the future causes real risks to the future of the school through the likely decision of seconded teachers to leave, and consequent continuing uncertainty for parents and pupils.”

According to Lord Jay, the Department for Education refused to offer funding for the academy beyond autumn 2011, making delaying its opening impossible.

Mr Fantato told the Mail: “No European school was ever morphed into a state school before and the administration of these schools involved multilateral agreements ruled by complex legislation.

“In my view, the process of transformation was too hastily conceived, putting at risk the educational welfare of the children currently in the school.”