A secondary school has tabled a bid to open a new free primary school by 2017.

Kingsmead School, in Southbury Road, Enfield, has won a place on a national development programme that will help to back its bid to gain funding for new free school.

The New Schools Network awarded Kingsmead a place on its scheme, which will support the school’s application to the Department of Education.

The proposed primary school would have two Reception classes and could open in September 2017. Headteacher Yvonne Barry has welcomed the backing.

She said: “We are extremely pleased to have the backing of the New Schools Network to assist us with our bid for a primary free school. 

“Kingsmead is a popular, oversubscribed school and with the borough expanding at an ever increasing rate we wish to make our unique characteristics and specialism in the performing and visual arts accessible to primary age children. 

“We will be submitting our application to the Department for Education in May and expect to hear back towards the end of the year. If we are successful, any funding agreement will adhere to the terms set out by the government-run Education Funding Agency.”

Natalie Evans, NSN’s director said: “Free schools have now established themselves on the educational landscape and are firm favourites with parents across the country. More than 360 free schools have now either opened or been approved to open. Once all of these schools are full they will provide 200,000 much needed new school places and they are already proving they can deliver free schools are more likely to be judged 'outstanding' by Ofsted than other state schools.

“The development programme has been designed to help support each group in making their vision a reality, and I am delighted to be welcoming Kingsmead School onto the programme. We look forward to working with them as they develop their plans in more detail and work with their local community to gather support for their proposed new school.”

The school is expected to find out this month if its bid has been successful.