Bradford's proposed City Academy will operate on a split site with sixth formers having their own campus, it emerged today.

The £15 million Academy could open in September 2004 if the Government gives the go-ahead.

It would be created from a merger of Dixons City Technology College, which has the highest results of any Bradford state school, and Bradford Cathedral Community College, which has been placed in Special Measures by Ofsted.

Parents, teachers and governors at both schools are currently being consulted.

Plans are still being finalised but some details are now agreed and are being put to parents for their feedback.

Architects who prepared a feasibility study are recommending a split site for the Academy.

The present Dixons building in Ripley Street, West Bowling, would eventually become the sixth form centre. Children aged 11 to 16 would be taught on the Cathedral site, off Lister Avenue, East Bowling.

But the changes would be phased so current pupils would not have to move sites.

There are plans to knock down the current Cathedral buildings and rebuild a state-of-the-art £15 million building, with performing-arts theatre, which would open in September 2005.

From 2004, all 11-year-olds joining the new Academy would start at the Cathedral site.

Ged Rowney, of consultants Capita, is project manager for the scheme. "So far everyone is sounding really positive," he said. "There are tremendous opportunities for enhancing the opportunities at both sites. A broader range of families will have access to high-quality education."

He said teaching unions and parents had raised concerns over the details of proposals, including the admissions policy - which has not yet been agreed.

He said civil servants had questioned whether it was value for money to knock down the present Cathedral buildings, which have just benefited from a revamp costing more than £1 million. But they had been told it would be almost as expensive to extend the current building and a lot more disruptive for pupils and staff.

Most of the cash for the new Academy, which would cost £15 million to £18 million, would come from the Government but the Diocese of Bradford and Dixons are also sponsors.

Schools Section