This means that Department for Education officials will now work closely with local residents to ensure that plans are developed sufficiently to ensure the approval of funding from the Secretary of State. With funding approval, the new school would open in September 2012.
Free schools are part of the Government’s radical education reforms and are inspired by the highly successful reforms in Sweden.
Under the reforms, groups of local parents, teachers, charities or businesses are able to apply to set up their own school and get state funding per pupil. They are subject to the same checks and enjoy the same freedoms as Academies.
Graham welcomed the news, commeting: “It is of great credit to the parents of Sandymoor that plans to open the new school remain on course. It will provide a rigorous science-based education and will help to raise standards for all children in the local area.
“This is a very exciting time for Sandymoor and the wider local area. I will continue to work with local parents to support this new school.”