A NEW secondary school could be built in Bolton.

St James’ CE High School in Farnworth has put forward plans to open a new 900-place Church of England free school to meet growing demand for places. A free school is funded by the government but not controlled by the local authority.

The scheme, which could see the new high school built in west central Bolton, would be part of bigger plans to bring together St James CE High School, Canon Slade in Bradshaw and Bolton St Catherine’s in Harwood under a multi-academy trust.

St James’ headteacher, Tania Lewyckyj said: “The free school has been proposed by St James’ CE School, but will become part of the multi-academy trust, once the trust is established.

“The school will replicate the ethos and high standards set by the school.

“The new school could be situated around west central part of Bolton where there is an urgent need for secondary school places.

“It is predicted that by 2019 there will be no spare capacity in secondary schools.

“For this academic year we received 900 applications for 210 places. We have had to turn families — practising Christians — away.

“St James’ CE High School has always been proud of its inclusive nature. At this new school 50 per cent intake will be based on a Christian faith criteria.”

The school will become the first in Bolton to open a free school. Others have been opened by trusts. It is now consulting on the plans before it progresses to the next stage.

The Department for Education will have to approve the proposals and its Education Funding Agency will work with the local authority to best site the new school to meet need for places.

It is proposed that the school be called St John’s CE High School, as the disciples James and John were brothers and strong leaders.

If approved, it will open in 2019 taking in 180 pupils in Year Seven — with the multi-academy trust due to open in June.

Mrs Lewyckyj will become executive principal of the school, while retaining her headship of St James’ CE High School.

Once the multi-academy trust is established, she will become the CEO, but will carry on the headship of her school.

The multi-academy trust will be known as the Bishop Fraser Trust, named after a leading educationalist in Manchester, whose statue stands outside Manchester Town Hall.

It was revealed this week that Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, who achieved the poorest GCSE results in the borough, has come on board to be part of the trust.

Mrs Lewyckyj said: “The multi-academy trust will ensure each school’s distinctiveness. They are all different schools, while sharing good practice to raise standards.

“This is a great opportunity to collaborate in the best interests of the pupils.

“The Christian mission is to help others, and attract the best teachers, who will be attracted to the opportunities the trust can offer.”

Although officially becoming an academy means the schools are no longer in local authority control, the schools stressed they will remain part of the Bolton family working as part of the Bolton Learning Alliance to raise standards amongst the borough’s schools.

Richard Senior, interim principal of Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, said: “We believe that joining a local multi-academy trust is very exciting.

“It will allow many benefits, indeed opportunities for us to grow as an academy and will widen and increase the prospects for all.”