Johanna Primary School on track to become an Oasis academy

The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the governing body of Johanna Primary School on Wednesday after a period of consultation with parents and the wider local community.

"This is a pivotal moment in the 138 year history of the school," says headteacher Di Morgan.

"We will now follow an established process of gathering further information and developing a formal proposal for the Department for Education.

"The proposed date for conversion will be 1 September 2011.

"We believe Oasis is the right sponsor to further improve our school and our community."

Oasis is the charity founded by Baptist minister and TV presenter Steve Chalke. Through its Oasis Community Learning arm it already sponsors a dozen academies around the country.

The Oasis group is based in the complex of buildings at the junction of Westminster Bridge Road and Kennington Road.

The school says that the Johanna name will be retained by the new academy, though the Oasis brand will also be incorporated.

"I am delighted to welcome Johanna Primary School into the Oasis family of academies," says Steve Chalke.

"Over the past few years the Oasis team at our Waterloo hub has worked closely with the school community and we look forward to deepening this partnership.

"Johanna is an achieving school that delivers excellent results. At Oasis we share the same passion to improve life chances – of both children and adults – and are excited about the opportunity of working together and ensuring that our new collaboration spreads further into the community in Waterloo."