A FREE secondary school in Durham is to be opened this September, it has been confirmed.

The Durham Free School has announced it will be up and running for the next academic year in Gilesgate, while preparations continue to secure a permanent site to the south-east of the city. Governors and staff have expressed their thanks to Durham County Council for making the Gilesgate School site available.

Headteacher Peter Cantley said: "This will mean that the Free School can open this September on a fully equipped school site, with all the specialist facilities you would expect to find in a secondary school.

“At the same time, the governing body of the Free School are reaffirming their commitment to providing a school to the south east of the city and the Department for Education is pursuing a number of permanent site options.”

Children living to the south east of Durham City will continue to be prioritised for admission to the school and a free bus will be provided.

Its route has been extended and it will now stop in Shincliffe, High Shincliffe, Bowburn, Park Hill, Cassop, Quarrington Hill, Kelloe, Coxhoe, West Cornforth, Spennymoor, Tudhoe and Croxdale.

Although the initial closing date for applications has passed, The Durham Free School is re-opening the application process up until May 6, to allow time for families from the Gilesgate area to find out more about the school and to be able to apply.

Applications for places can be made by completing and returning the form on the school’s new website www.thedurhamfreeschool.org.uk and in the back of the prospectus. The Free School has reserved tickets for parents of year six children in the Gilesgate area at their introductory parents’ evening at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Wednesday, April 17 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available by emailing info@durhamfreeschool.org or phoning 0191-375 5760.