Norton Hill School has announced it is one of 23 groups of teachers, parents and existing schools across the country to have been awarded a place on a development programme designed to support groups that want to set up new schools – and it has its sights set on a new Primary School for the area.

Norton Hill argues that the scale of local housebuilding in Midsomer Norton means that by September 2016, there will not be enough reception places to meet the needs of the community and therefore, a new primary school is essential for the area. Once approved, the new school will be close to, but separate from, Norton Hill's secondary school and will take approximately 45 reception pupils from 2016 onwards, growing year by year to take 240 pupils when full.

The new school will be part of The Midsomer Norton Schools' Partnership, along with Norton Hill, Somervale, High Littleton and Clutton (announced this week, see Page 4). It will have its own Headteacher, appointed by the partnership and will also benefit from the leadership of Alun Williams, the Federation's Executive Headteacher.

Norton Hill is now working with the New Schools Network (NSN) on a Development Programme that provides personalised support to schools and other groups as they prepare to submit an application to the Department for Education (DfE) to open a new school from 2016.

Natalie Evans, NSN's Director, said: "I am delighted to be welcoming Norton Hill onto the programme. The school has an outstanding reputation and is well placed to meet the needs of a growing population in the town.

"Free Schools have now established themselves on the educational landscape and are proving firm favourites with parents across the country. More than 360 free schools have now either opened or been approved to open, and once all of these schools are full, they will provide 200,000 new much-needed school places. They are already proving they can deliver – free schools are more likely to be judged 'Outstanding' than other state schools. We look forward to working with Norton Hill as they develop their plans in more detail and work with their local community to gather support for their proposed new school."

Norton Hill School is looking to hear from any parent of reception age children from 2016 onwards. If you fall into this category and are interested in your child attending the new 'Norton Hill Primary School', please log on to: http://www.nortonhillschool.com">www.nortonhillschool.com to express an interest.

Alternatively you can phone: 01761 412557 for further details, or email: [email protected]">[email protected]