A new school intended to boost a deprived area could come into action at least a year earlier than expected.

The proposed Falmer Academy, which would replace Falmer High School in Lewes Road Brighton, is expected to be built by 2010 if planning permission is granted.

But it has been revealed that Government restrictions would allow the school to start operating as an academy from its existing buildings a year earlier.

The changed status would enable the school to set its own curriculum and select some of its pupils.

Headteacher Stuart McLaughlin said: "As far as we're concerned we would rather it happened sooner than later.

"At other academies where they have started a year before moving it has shown very positive results."

Falmer is one of 109 schools nationwide which have already become city academies or are earmarked to be made one.

Each is located in a relatively disadvantaged area and is intended to boost the community as well as the school itself.

Private sponsors provide funds for new buildings in exchange for a say in the curriculum taught at the school.

The Falmer project is being sponsored by Jon Aisbitt, a millionaire investment banker from Haywards Heath.

Academies can act independently of their local education authority, answering directly to the Government.

Improved Falmer has been one of Brighton and Hove's least popular schools but its exam performances have steadily improved in recent years and pupil numbers have grown.

Ofsted inspectors who recently visited are expected to praise Falmer when their report is published in the next few weeks.

Moving into a £27 million new building is expected to give it a boost to bring its popularity in line with, or beyond, other schools in the city.

Mr McLaughlin said starting to operate from the existing buildings would enable the school to introduce a new ethos ready for the move.

He said: "It's about creating a new culture with higher expectations."

He said despite having the right to select ten per cent of its pupils, the academy had agreed with Brighton and Hove City Council that it would not use those powers.

The situation is being monitored by parents from Patcham who were angry when they discovered their area had been included in proposals for a joint catchment area for Patcham High and Falmer, currently the city's two worstachieving schools.

Negotiations over the plans for the academy have been in a deadlock while the authorities decide where on the site the buildings should go. There has been opposition to a proposal to build on the school field.

Trade union Unison, which represents many of the school support staff, has opposed the academy plans and said it was disappointed changes could took place sooner than expected.

Brighton and Hove branch spokesman Alex Knutsen said it would bring forward protests against the academy.

He said: "It is effectively the full privatisation of a public service and all the community is getting in exchange is one new building. It should not be allowed to happen."