A NEW free school for children of primary school age could open in Portishead in September 2014.

The newly formed Village Quarter School Trust sent its plans to the Government’s Department for Education in time for the January 4 deadline, in a bid to secure funds for the new school.

Representatives from any shortlisted organisations are expected to be interviewed in March and April this year, and successful applicants will be notified by May.

Following several public meetings in the town, during which presentations were delivered by potential sponsors, education advisor Marcus Orlovsky was chosen by The Village Quarter Parent Group as the sponsor they wanted to work with.

The 120-page long application submitted by him and his team, says the free school will deliver world class education. It includes proposals for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to be introduced from the early years foundation stage, the teaching of a second language from year one and applied creativity for all.

If funding is agreed, the school will open with two reception classes, a year one class and a year two class. The school will then grow, expecting to reach full capacity in 2020.

One of the sites suggested for the school is a disused office block in Newfoundland Way, near to the Village Quarter, where demand for new school places is highest.

Parent group member Laura Haseldine said: “Marcus and his team have worked very hard to complete this application for us and have consulted with us throughout the process, ensuring all our hopes and ideas are included. We now have to wait and see, it’s all up to the Department for Education.”