PLANS to make the new primary school in Okehampton a free school academy have been supported by the town’s council.

The Department for Education is currently looking for a sponsor to run the school, which will be built to the north of Crediton road on land secured by Devon County Council.

Okehampton Primary School, in partnership with Okehampton College and the Diocese of Exeter, has submitted a bid to run the new primary school under the new ‘free’ school programme.

The partnership proposes that the new free school academy would follow the national curriculum, have longer school days and specialise in outdoor activities.

This bid was supported by Okehampton Town Council this week.

There are currently two other known bids from organisations that wish to run the school.

The Devon Wildlife Trust has proposed that the new school site is used to open Devon’s first ‘nature school’ and will deliver education for children following the national curriculum but will have an emphasis on outdoor education and the environment.

Another bid has been submitted by Red Kite Academy Trust, who also wish to run the school following the national curriculum.

Okehampton Town Council voted on Monday (September 11) and decided to support proposals for the free school academy.

‘The council wish to confirm their support for the proposal by the Exeter Diocesan Board Of Education, working in partnership with delivery partners Okehampton Primary School and Okehampton College,’ said Okehampton Mayor Cllr Jan Goffey.

‘The two school leaders, Hazel Fox and Darryl Chapman, have successfully led both schools for several years and the college achieved an outstanding Ofsted report.

‘We believe they will provide an education rooted in the locality. Both schools are governed by people who know the area and the population within it. Their strength is proven as is the excellence of the teaching.

‘We fully support their proposals for the new school and we believe their local knowledge and expertise should place them in the prime position compared to the policies and statements of the other contenders.’