This week, the Department for Education approved a secondary department to the Cobham Free School (a primary school), allowing it to proceed to the pre-opening phase. That means the local sponsors will work with local authorities and the Department to turn their educational vision and business plan into a reality. For details on the local team who put together the bid, the vision and ethos of the planned school and further details, click here.

There were initially two local Cobham bids for secondary free schools in Cobham. Only one made it through to the interview stage, based on the strength of the education and business plans. For my part, I am delighted that we look set for a new secondary school in Cobham. It is fantastic news for parents and children both in Cobham and across the borough.

We have had a longstanding shortage of secondary places in Cobham and across Elmbridge, and the approval of a new secondary department to the Cobham Free School will alleviate that pressure, whilst providing parents with greater choice. There is still a lot of planning and preparation to be done - including as to the site - but I am delighted that a flagship Conservative policy is delivering for local parents and children. Along with Surrey County Council’s school expansion program we are getting to grips with the pressure on school places borough about by a recent spike in fertility rates, the flow of families into the borough and the spill-over from the independent sector since the last recession.