The site of Midsomer Norton’s new £2 million Primary School could soon be revealed, with the expectation of an announcement in January or the early part of 2016. The bid to build the new school, by the Midsomer Schools Partnership, approached by B&NES Council to provide more school places in the area due to the rise in local housing, was accepted by the Department of Education in September.

Plans are now progressing for the 420 capacity free school, which is due to open in September 2017. This week, Dr Mark Thompson, Deputy Head of the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, which includes Norton Hill and Somervale Secondary Schools, the Midsomer Norton Sixth, High Littleton and Clutton Primary Schools, went on a fact finding mission to the Marine Academy in Plymouth, the first free school in the South West to be graded as ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED.

Marine Academy has only been open three years, but has already been rated by OFSTED as one of the best in the country. Dr Thompson met with Siobhan Easton, the Headteacher, as well as a number of key staff at the school. He said this week: “We know we have great schools locally, such as High Littleton and Clutton, and we work really closely with them. At the same time, we want to look outside the area to learn from new schools like ours that have succeeded in creating something special for their children in a short space of time. We will be working closely with Marine Academy, as well as our local partners to make sure that we will be ready to offer children a happy and exciting school from the very first day we open.”

A new Primary School is needed in the area, with many at capacity, due to the extra 2,400 homes in the area with more to come, such as Monger Lane, Charlton Park and the Welton, Bibby Baron site and has already had interest from parents further afield such as Holcombe and Peasedown St John.

Speaking last week, Mark Thompson said: “This new Primary School will not hurt others in B&NES, as due to the extra housing, many were already at capacity or full. Even with the building of the new school, there may still not be enough places. That is how much this new school is needed.”

The brand new school will draw on the expertise of others within the Midsomer Schools Partnership, offering teaching and facilities from all of these sources. There will be an emphasis on languages from the age of five, specialising in science, maths and technology subjects and outdoor learning. All of this will be

reflected in the facilities and the plan is for children to step seamlessly from Primary into local Secondary Schools, so that education is planned from age five to eighteen.

Further developments in the New Year will see a Headteacher appointed for the new school and a public consultation and planning application prepared.

As we wait for the announcement of the location, the school will also be talking to prospective parents and hope that any family with a child currently at nursery will log on to the website at: www.nortonhillprimary.com to leave their contact details so that they can be contacted to find out more on how to apply for a place.

Whilst still in the planning stages, there are many ideas surrounding the new school, with the potential of involving children from the local Partnership to take part in activities and learn more about the new school as it is built. Watch this space for more details.