A NEW free school will have an extended day, it has been announced.

The Durham Free School day will last from 8.40am to 4.40pm.

The new secondary school is set to open in September at a location expected to be announced shortly.

It is expected to attract pupils from the Bowburn, Coxhoe, Shincliffe and Spennymoor areas.

The school day will begin at 8.40am, classes will start at 9.15am and during the final hour of the day pupils will be able to choose between supervised homework sessions, tutor support, sport or musical activities.

Headteacher Peter Cantley said: “We are passionately committed to placing children and parents at the heart of our educational vision.

“We really want to go the extra mile for all our students and break the mould of current conventions, in relation to the framework of the traditional school day, by increasing student choice, providing support with homework, offering the opportunity to do sports activities every day and extending the range of qualifications students are able to gain.”

The school will open with around 60 year seven pupils, expanding by one year group each academic year to an 11 to 18 school and sixth form with up to 840 students.

For more information, visit durhamfreeschool.org

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