Justin Champions North Swindon Free School In Parliament

North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson, has welcomed members of New College’s ‘New School for North Swindon’ team to Parliament discuss the latest progress of the bid, which was scrutinised by the Department for Education this week.

Swindon faces a shortfall of secondary school places in the near future after the previous government cut more than 200,000 places nationally during a baby-boom. Justin has been working closely with the Department for Education, the New Schools Network and New College in order to secure the necessary funding to build a new Free School in North Swindon.

As part of the process, Justin approached New College and asked them to put together a bid for a new, much-needed, secondary school which focuses on business, finance and IT. Hundreds of local parents indicated their support for the £25 million proposal

The New College team led by experienced principal, Graham Taylor, and strongly supported by local teachers, headteachers & academics, has worked with parents and Swindon Borough Council to put together an engaging case for a new school, likely to be sited adjacent to the Abbey Stadium. The initial bid was assessed and approved by the Department for Education and the team this week sat down for the final interview with officials. A decision is expected within the next two months.

Justin Tomlinson MP said: “As a local resident I know this school is crucial for our community and I am excited by this bid. I approached New College to go for this Free School bid and we decided the best focus for the school would be business, finance and IT. The community is absolutely right behind this bid both for the future of additional school places and the fact that New College has a very good track record. I have raised the importance of it with Ministers and look forward to the bid being positively looked at by Government”.