Free school looks at potential sites

Three sites are being considered for a planned free school in Newark.

Final plans to open the Exemplar Newark Business Academy have been approved by the Department for Education and it is aiming to take its first year 7 pupils in September 2013.

The three sites being looked at by the DFE as possible locations for the academy are all within half a mile of Newark town centre.

The chosen site is due to be announced in February.

It is unlikely a new school would be ready in time for the first intake so it is likely to open in a temporary location, as other free schools have done.

The process to recruit a principal to lead the academy is under way.

“We are looking for a special individual,” said a spokesman for the academy’s project team.

“The principal will play a significant role in delivering our vision and promoting the Exemplar culture — a dynamic, positive and innovative learning environment underpinned by Christian values of care.”

Exemplar Newark Business Academy will deliver the national curriculum through a business specialism.

It plans to develop strong links with the business community.

“When young people leave our school, we want them to be well prepared to succeed in a competitive commercial world,” said the spokesman.

“Even though parents will already have made their choice of preferred secondary school for next September, from the list available to them at the time, they now have the choice to enrol their children in year 7 at Exemplar.

“The academy will provide another choice for Newark and the team is confident that the number of parents who choose to send their children to schools outside Newark will reduce significantly.

“We know that if every child in Newark chose to go to school in the town there would not be enough places available.

“Future plans for the town indicate that this situation will become more severe in the coming years putting additional pressure on schools in the area.”

The project team is working under the guidance of the DfE.

The initial bid for the free school was revised after it was rejected by the DfE in October 2011. It was submitted for the Everyday Champions Academy and turned down amid concerns creationism would be taught as fact.

The Everyday Champions Church no longer sponsors the bid.