Durham free school could bring 'millions' in funding

John Denning, lead proposer for the Durham Free School, was speaking after the campaign completed an intensive round of public consultation on their plans.

Five public meetings were held over ten days in Bowburn, Croxdale, Coxhoe and Durham City, ending in Coxhoe on Wednesday night.

Mr Denning, a teacher and father-of-four from High Shincliffe, said: "Once again we have been really pleased with the reception the proposal has received.

"This will not only bring an excellent new school to our community, it will create new jobs for support staff as well as teaching staff."

Supporters have also been leafleting villages affected by the plans and held talks with the New Schools Network (NSN), a charity which has close links to Education Secretary Michael Gove and helps and advises groups hoping to found free schools.

Contact from the NSN was a major boost for the campaign; but supporters appealed to Durham parents and others to get behind their efforts locally.

Craig Robinson, a founder member of the Durham Free School group, said: "Clearly we are making the case well to the powers that be who will be funding the new school for Durham.

"What we need is for people to continue to show an interest in a places for their children. For the Government to give us millions in funding, we need to prove the level of demand."

Dr Robinson called on parents to join the campaign at durhamfreeschool.org He said: "We promise that the school places will always go first to the children who live in the south and east of Durham and that will never change; but for this to happen we need people to sign up.

"They have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

The campaign involves many families from areas which have struggled to get their children into Durham Johnston School.

Supporters hope to submit their proposals to the Government in the spring, get the go-ahead next autumn and open the new secondary school in September 2013.