The academy, for three to 19-year-olds, has met with strong opposition in the city, especially among teaching staff.

It even prompted teaching unions to hold a vote of no confidence in the city's director of education Steven Andrews and the councillor in charge of education, Brian Roberts.

But city councillors on Tuesday night approved the proposals for the academy, which would be built on the site of the former Mary Linwood School.

Most of the estimated �20m cost of setting up the academy will be met by the government, as will the annual running costs.

However, a spokeswoman for Leicester City Council said Leicester Diocese and a private business consortium are planning to contribute about 10% of the setup cost - approximately �2m.

A ballot last year of the National Union of Teachers revealed almost total objection to the creation of the academy.