THE principal of the Oxford Academy - the city's first flagship academy which is to replace Peers School - will be paid £100,000 a year.

The bumper salary is designed to attract the very best to apply for the post at the academy, which aims to take its first pupils in September 2008.

The Sandy Lane school, in Littlemore, was given the go-ahead by the Government in March to become an academy.

It will be a £30m project, backed largely by the Diocese of Oxford, but co-sponsors include Oxford Brookes University, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and BMW.

Lorna Caldicott, the headteacher at Peers, said she would be applying for the post - which will pay between £20,000 and £40,000 more than Oxfordshire's state heads earn.

She said: "With academies, it's absolutely essential that the position is advertised to a national field. Of course, I would like the job, but understand that it must be advertised and that's part of the process.

"You need to make sure you absolutely have the right person for the job."

She said she felt confident she had the right credentials for the job, saying: "Obviously, I have a lot of relevant experience and know a lot about Peers, but I cannot assume I have the job.

"There have been indications that I would not be out of my depth in taking the job on. I hope lots of people are interested in the job and there's a strong field of applications."

The average salary for a secondary school head ranges between £60,000 and £80,000, depending on the size of the school, but it is understood that the salary being offered for the role of principal at the academy is not unusual.

Ms Caldicott added: "That salary is normal for an academy principal. I think this is because there's a great deal of accountability and this is a flagship academy."

No one was available for comment at the Diocese of Oxford last night.

The plan could see new school buildings, costing £22m, opening in September 2010. A feasibility study is due to be carried out along with a consultation process over the summer.

But the plans have already sparked controversy, with teachers from two unions joining a public services rally a fortnight ago.

Chris Blakey, vice president of Oxfordshire NUT, said: "We don't think things have been done as transparently as they could have been. This advert appearing as it has seems to have shocked a lot of people, because we have not really been consulted at all yet, but that may be because we don't know the protocol on these things.

"We had thought we were in a period of consultation, but with this advert it seems like a decision has already been made."

"£100,000 does seem like a lot of money, especially when the average teacher earns about £25,000."

  • Two public meetings are due to be staged next week which parents and anyone interested in the plans are invited to attend. They are on Tuesday at Rose Hill Community Centre and Thursday at Blackbird Leys Community Centre. Both start at 7.30pm.