But the plans have met with strong opposition from some parents amid fears that control of the school will be lost to an outside organisation and that the foundation – backed by millionaire benefactor Sir Peter Vardy, chief executive of the Reg Vardy motor dealership – could impose a strong Christian ethos.
Parents and pupils marched through Conisbrough on Saturday as they pledged to step up their campaign as consultations on the proposals get underway this week.
Kay Wilkinson, chairwoman of the Conisbrough and Denaby Parents Action Group, who helped organise the march, said: "This is privatisation through the back door. The way they run their academies, they have full control. Parents have no input and the community has no input.
"There is a question as to why Northcliffe was put in special measures when GCSE results were the highest it had ever had.
"We are not saying nothing needs to be done but it should not have been put in special measures and then suddenly a man in shining armour is saying he will save the school and our community. We don't need saving.
"We do not want the control of the school to go to someone who sells cars and who is not in the education sector."
The foundation, which is also backing a a new school at Thorne near Doncaster, has issued a string of assurances to allay parents' concerns.
It says the academy would not be a faith school, it would cater for all abilities and it would give priority for places to youngsters living in Conisbrough and Denaby.
It adds that the local education authority and parents would hold places on the board of governors and that a school council would consist of teachers, students and representatives of the community and businesses.
But the foundation told the Yorkshire Post that it if it failed to convince parents, it would pull out of the planned investment.
A spokeswoman said: "The Foundation does not tout for business – we were invited to be involved.
"At the end of the day if the local community does not want an academy then we will not force ourselves on anybody.
"They are being offered a brand new school that the LEA cannot afford, with state-of-the-art facilities and with the aim of raising standards.
"If parents are 100 per cent sure that their children are getting the very best education that can be provided and 100 per cent happy with that then fine, we won't force ourselves on anybody."
The foundation said it provided a free bus for parents in Doncaster to visit its Kings Academy in Middlesbrough but only five people took up the offer.
The spokeswoman added: "We are disappointed that people seem to be basing opposition on rumour.
"The comments about the foundation are not based on fact and I would urge people to find out the facts. Sir Peter Vardy does not get involved in the day-to-day running of the schools. He does not get involved with the teachers or the children – he is best at selling cars.
"Where academies exist at the moment they are part of the community and the facilities are used by the community."
A number of public consultation meetings will take place over the next few weeks with Doncaster Council's Cabinet expected to make a decision at the end of July.

ian.waugh@ypn.co.uk