Last updated at 15:56, Sunday, 06 January 2013

A PRIVATE school which plans to scrap its fees and become a free school has received a flood of interest from parents wanting to send their children there.

Chetwynde School has been inundated with families keen to take up pupil places since revealing its bid to convert to a government funded independent school (free school) in September 2014.

In six weeks the parents of more than 1,300 children have returned forms to register an interest in their children attending the Barrow school.

Chetwynde, one of Cumbria’s highest performing schools, aims to be the county’s first free school and its application has been submitted to the Department for Education.

The change of status would allow Chetwynde to offer its independent primary, secondary and sixth form education free of charge and secure the long-term future of the school. It would receive funding from the government based on pupil numbers. Chetwynde now has around 200 pupils and its capacity as a free school would be around 508 pupils.

Headteacher Russell Collier said: “The parents of just over 1,300 children have registered their interest. To get to 1,300 in the space of six weeks is amazing. We always knew there was a demand for what Chetwynde provides, but for most people the biggest hurdle has been the fees. What it has really shown is there are so many people out there who value what the school provides, it is heart warming. Now the school can be accessible.”

Chetwynde now has to wait to see if it is shortlisted for interviews.

Some of the criteria for independent schools becoming free schools include showing a record of academic success and parental demand.

Mr Collier said everyone feels “very positive”. He and Chetwynde’s chairman of governors, Simon Mardel, thanked the whole school community for the “supreme” collective effort with the bid.

Mr Mardel, who was delighted with the parent response, said: “There is appreciation for what we are trying to do here.

“There are so many good ingredients, we are really optimistic.”

First published at 13:09, Sunday, 06 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk