Christian free school gets the go ahead

The joint proposal for a new secondary school in Greenford has received the approval of the Department for Education.

The proposal was submitted by Twyford Church of England High School and the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS).

The school is due to open in September 2013 and has the strong support of parents in the area.

Alice Hudson, headteacher of Twyford, said, “We are tremendously excited that our plans have met with such a vote of confidence from the government.

"There is much work to be done to turn the plans into reality in just two years, but we are looking forward to working with the local community to provide the school they need.”

Although the school will be Christian in character, it will welcome students of all faiths and none.

Whilst the LDBS's recent new schools have had 50 per cent of open places requiring no faith commitment, the proposed new school will be the second LDBS school to abandon the requirement on all of its open places.

Inigo Woolf, from the LDBS, said, “I am sure that the 500 parents who signed up to make the new school one of their six choices of secondary schools, played a key role in getting the go ahead from the government.

"This will be our fourth new school since 2007 and our second with a completely open admissions policy.”

It joins the 149 other primary and secondary schools in which the LDBS operates across the capital.

The proposers will now continue to work with the local council and the Academy Reference Group to plan out details of the new school.

Polly Buhariwala, leader of the parents’ group from Horsenden Primary School said, “It's great news that the LDBS and Twyford have now received government support to open a new high school in North Greenford.

"Parents have waited a long time for an excellent local school for local children. We are extremely pleased for our children and our community.”