Proposals for a new primary school for Midsomer Norton were submitted to the Department for Education on Monday, 1st June.

The Norton Hill Primary School has been proposed by the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership (MNSP), made up of Norton Hill, Somervale, Clutton and High Littleton Schools. They have submitted an application for a new primary school for 420 pupils when full, to open for Reception pupils in 2017.

This application represents many months of dedication and hard work. To complete the lengthy 100-page application form, the MNSP had to write detailed education plans and budgets, explain why the school is needed by this community and demonstrate that it has local support. More than 120 parents signed-up to say that this school would be their first choice and the Local Authority wrote a letter of support for the application.

If their application is approved, the next stage will be a rigorous interview with the Department for Education, after which they will hear whether their school has been given the green light.

Alun Williams, CEO of the MSNSP and Headteacher of Norton Hill and Somervale Schools, said: "There are 2,470 new homes being built or about to be built in the Somer Valley area. We need to make sure that every parent has access to a high-quality school – and this bid gives us the chance to plan something really special for children in the local area. The new school will make sure we meet the demand for places as new families move into the area and add to the choice of all parents locally."

The MNSP was supported through the application process by national education charity, New Schools Network. Sarah Pearson, Interim Director of New Schools Network, said: "The Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership has worked tirelessly to prepare an application for the Department for Education and we hope they will have the chance to put their plans into action and see their vision of a fantastic new school realised.

"There are now more than 400 new schools open or approved to open across the country and the momentum of the programme continues to increase. These schools are proving popular with parents and are adding good new school places where they are needed. With the Government committing to 500 new free schools, this is an exciting time."

Interested parents can find out more at http://www.nortonhillschool.com">www.nortonhillschool.com