AFTER months of preparation, the bid for a new school for North Swindon will formally be submitted today by New College.

Faced with a massive shortage of secondary school places in the coming years, the college have submitted a bid to the government for a free school.

As part of the bid, the school needed to secure 500 signatures from Year 7 parents who may send their children there, which has been achieved.

Now the government will consider if the bid is successful, with New College possibly hearing as early as the New Year.

A draft document was examined by the New Schools Network last month to see if any changes were needed to strengthen the application so those behind it feel they make a strong case.

New College principal Graham Taylor said: “We have given it our best shot so we have to see from here.

“We are pleased we have made the signature target which is very helpful. Everyone is grateful for the support we have received from the public and local business.

“That is very important because if we are successful, the school will focus on business and IT computing.”

The next stage will be for the government to consider the bid and if it is successful, there will be an interview stage in the next few months.

As part of the bid a number of sites have been chosen for the school but it is the Department of Education which will choose and then buy the site.

It is believed that among the sites being looked at are the new Tadpole Farm housing project and the former Motorola Factory.

Due to the need for places, there has been strong political support for the bid.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: “I have been instrumental in helping this bid and organising a number of meetings with the New Schools Network to make sure our bid is as professional and likely to succeed as possible.

“I feel this is an exceptionally strong bid and would be a fantastic addition to the local school offering for the northern sector.”

A second bid for a free school is also being put together by the Diocese of Bristol which will be focused on either central or south Swindon. The deadline for this bid is also the end of the week so all the formal paperwork will be submitted by Friday before the same process will apply.