THE headteacher of an Oxfordshire special school has welcomed the news that a council will rethink its rejection of the proposed new Swan School.

Nicola Partridge, head of Meadowbrook College, was reacting to yesterday's news that a group of 12 councillors has 'called in' the decision to turn down the school for planning permission.

Her school is set to benefit if the Swan School is given the go-ahead as it will be able to move out of the current Harlow Centre and get its own purpose-built facility.

Ms Partridge said: "This planning application would enable us to provide a fit-for-purpose building tailored to the needs of some of the most vulnerable young people in the county.

With this call-in to the Planning Review Committee, we hope that there might be an opportunity to move forward with our plans to deliver a truly exceptional facility for our young people who have struggled in mainstream education."

The controversial application was rejected by the city council's planning committee last week after concerns were raised about an road cutting across a major city cycle route.

Local residents and cycling campaigners are now gearing up again to oppose the application when it goes in front of the planning review committee on October 10.

Paul James, of the Swan School, said: "We are very encouraged that there are so many city councillors out there who feel that the right decision for the parents and children of Oxford may not have been made."