Two sites are considered for North West Leeds new free school (From Wharfedale Observer)

Two sites are considered for North West Leeds new free school

9:00am Sunday 10th February 2013 in Local news By Annette McIntyre

A new primary school is to open in North West Leeds in September.

Two sites at undisclosed locations are currently under consideration for the Free School Leeds. The new school will be based on the model of the Free School Norwich, which was the first of its kind in the UK when it opened in 2011.

Neither fee-paying nor selective, it will open with a reception class and years one, two and three – with a total of 96 pupils being taken on initially.

It will have 24-pupil class sizes and will be dyslexia friendly. It is planned that the school will grow to have the full complement of years up to Year 6 as each new intake comes into the reception class.

Although the location of the school has not yet been finalised, it is taking applications for all of the opening four years, and reception class applications must be received by April 3. The school, which was formed by parents and teachers from Leeds and Bradford Dyslexia Association, is also looking for a head.

It is understood it will be based in an existing, converted building rather than being built from scratch.

Free Schools are state-funded and independent of local authority control. They are free to design their own curriculum to meet the needs and preferences of parents in the community they serve An open afternoon for anyone interested in the new school will take place at 2pm on Saturday at Weetwood Hall Conference Hall. Pat Payne, chairman of governors and founder of the Free School Leeds, will be there along with Tania Sidney-Roberts, founder and principal of The Free School Norwich. For details, visit freeschoolleeds.com or call Pat on (01977) 684357.