THE first Free School in Durham is set to triple in size from September after more local families made it their first choice school.
The Durham Free School has already grown by 20 per cent since opening last year as more children have joined its current Year 7, which totals 37.
The school expects to have 90 students this September as another year group joins. It will grow year on year to a total of 630 children once full.
Now parents have spoken out about why they chose the school ahead of public meetings that will offer the latest update on plans to identify the permanent site for the school.
Parent Lindsay Sharpe, of Bowburn, whose son Ryan Atkinson, 12, joined last September, said: "There are no schools close to us and hopefully the Free School will be allowed to move nearer to Bowburn as planned.
"The children here do get more attention, more one-to-one time with the teacher and more help with their homework. Ryan is very sporty and is loving all the football."
Other parents have praised the school for its small class sizes and opportunities for students.
Marjory Dixon, of Bowburn, added: "For me, it's all positive. My daughter Ellie has settled in brilliantly and is doing really well. I can't ask for more than that.
"It's small so no child is lost in the system. It's a totally different atmosphere to a big school. You feel welcome, as if the door is always open."
Mum Diane Smith, of Bowburn, said: "I am exceptionally pleased with the school. My child was classed as one who would probably never learn. She has come here and is now coming on in leaps and bounds. This school has brought the best out in her.
"In a bigger school she would have been lost in the numbers and wouldn't have been pushed. She's doing netball, archery, origami and music and is very enthusiastic about school."
The Durham Free School opened last September in the former Gilesgate Sports College, which was unexpectedly closed by the council in 2013. When the project first began the intention was that it would be located further to the south east of the city where there was no secondary school.
Chair of Governors John Denning said: “The journey towards reaching a decision on our permanent site has been a far longer and a much more complicated process that we could have possibly imagined when we first embarked on the Free School project over three years ago now.
“I know this is an issue which is important to many families and although we still await a final decision from the Department for Education we want to share as much information as possible with local people at this juncture and have a chance to talk with them and listen to their views.”
Agents acting on behalf of the Department for Education have been carrying out extensive research and feasibility studies to decide on the best permanent location.
Headteacher Peter Cantley said: "We don't have a final outcome yet, and ultimately the decision lies with the government, but we want to listen and pass on any comments people may wish to make."
The meetings are on Thursday, March 27 at 7.30pm at Bowburn Community Centre, and on Thursday, April 3 at 7.30pm at The Durham Free School, in Bradford Crescent, Gilesgate.
