First Greek Orthodox secondary school gets go ahead

Britain’s first Greek Orthodox secondary school has been given the green light from the Department for Education.

St Andrew the Apostle is due to open in September 2013 in the Barnet and Enfield area. It is one of only 28 secondary free schools approved for opening in 2013 by the DfE.

The Russell Education Trust, the group behind the school, is in discussion with the DfE to confirm the exact location of the school, although the Russell Trust has said its preferred choice is Trent Park.

Half the school intake will be on the basis of faith, while the other half will be based on geographical proximity to the school.

The Russell Trust is working with the Classical Education Trust (CET) to establish St Andrew the Apostle.

CET chairman Yiannis Pareas said the school would be based on the Christian faith and the moral principles of the Greek Orthodox Church.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to open a school that serves the community in Barnet and Enfield as well as the wider Greek Orthodox community in North London,” he said.

“The long-term aim of the CET and RET is to ensure that a state funded school can increase the number of students from all back grounds progressing to university, and studying maths, sciences and the classical subjects.”

RET spokesperson, Karen Lynch, said: “We are thrilled with this news because the plans we have for St Andrew the Apostle are so exciting and seem to have captured the imagination of local parents who want another outstanding school in this part of London.

“We are also honoured to be supporting the country’s very first Greek Orthodox Secondary School.”