LAUNCESTON College is celebrating the announcement by The Department for Education (DfE) that its application to open a new primary school in Launceston has been approved.

The DfE announced the opening of 130 new academies across the country, three of which will be in Cornwall. The Launceston College Primary Campus is planned to open in September 2018.

The new primary school will be part of the Launceston College Multi Academy Trust and will provide 60 places in each year group from Reception to Year 6, places for 420 children in total aged from 4 to 10 years old.

The school will be located as part of the Hay Common development in Launceston and the proposal for running the school includes providing a longer than traditional school day and a strong emphasis on both academic and personal development.

The Launceston College MAT was successful in a rigorous application process competing for funding against other applications nationally. Work has already started to achieve the challenging opening date of September 2018.

Jack Jackson, CEO of the Launceston College MAT said: “We are all delighted with the DfE announcement; it will ensure that there are enough excellent school places for the children in our community and provide a greater choice for local parents. The new school will not only enable us to provide a 0-19 education for young people but will also enable us to work closely with other primary schools in the area. We are all very excited about the potential that this decision will unlock.”

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South, Jade Farrington, said as a result the new school is going to be built as a ‘two-form entry school’, instead of a four-classroom school as was part of the section 106 agreement.