Second free school could open in Warrington

Sir Iain Hall, chief executive of King’s Leadership Academy in Woolston and chairman of the Great Schools for All Children trust said that the demand for places at the school has led to the organisation submitting another bid to the Department of Education.

He said: “Four years ago King’s Leadership Academy was the dream. It’s been a hard fight but we now have established a school with a traditional education that excites many parents. 

“This bid is to try and help those parents secure a place in the school of their choice.”

Free schools are educational establishments championed by the previous Tory education secretary, Michael Gove.

They are funded by the government but they are not run by the council, so they can set the length of their own school terms and they do not have to follow the national curriculum.

Free schools can be set up by businesses, charities, universities, parents, teachers and other groups.

There is no information about the location of the proposed new free school yet but the head teacher of King’s Leadership Academy, Shane Iertson, confirmed that his school is currently oversubscribed.

He said that 400 people expressed an interest in starting at the school this September and they have received 200 first choice school applications for just 120 places.

“We feel that we want to support the community – some parents are really disappointed [if their children do not get a place] because they live so close,” he said.

King’s Leadership Academy will move into its new premises on Hillock Lane on June 13 after the build suffered a series of setbacks when the lead contractor went into administration.

The new building will accommodate 840 pupils and Sir Iain Hall said that parents are keen for the school to expand but the new building is not big enough.

He hopes to have a decision from the Department of Education about the new bid by the end of June.