Southampton Itchen Labour MP John Denham has been pressing the Oasis Trust to tell parents exactly how the new Oasis Academy Mayfield will be organised. The Academy is due to open in September this year and will replace the Woolston and Grove Park secondary schools.

John Denham said "In the past few weeks I have been contacted by parents, staff and governors at the existing schools and they all say that they do not have enough information about how the new school is to operate. Many staff at Woolston and Grove Park do not know whether they will have a job at the Academy and so many of them are looking for jobs elsewhere. This can’t be good for the children they are teaching now and we may see talented teachers leaving the city.

"Whatever the history, it is important that the school succeeds. Too many staff and parents have been left in the dark about the school’s plans. I’m glad Oasis is now writing to parents. I hope from now on the school keeps in touch regularly and responds to parents."