THE Government has announced, in an unprecedented move, that two bids for free schools in the town have been successful.

Prime Minister David Cameron has today listed a number of new schools to be built and, in a rare move, Swindon will receive funding for two new secondary schools.

One application has been put forward by the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust and will become the town's first Church of England secondary school, accepting youngsters of all faiths and none.

The exact location has not been decided but it is likely to be in the Wichelstowe area.

New College is behind the second bid for a school, which will be located in North Swindon. Called the Great Western Academy, it will have a business and enterprise based curriculum.

Swindon North MP Justin Tomlinson has worked closely with New College to secure the funding.

He said: “This is probably my proudest achievement as an MP. Having asked New College to step forward and bid, I have worked tirelessly with them both in Swindon and crucially in Parliament to make absolutely certain we were successful.

“To have secured two successful new schools is unprecedented and shows how the Free School programme and Conservative Government is working to expand school places and parental choice.

“As a fellow local resident I made this campaign my absolute priority with a huge amount of work and support. Yet again major investment has been secured and I am so proud to have delivered.

“I am very grateful for the support of the local community, the local councillors in Priory Vale and St Andrews, and councillors David Renard and Fionuala Foley who, right to the wire, continued to help build our case.”

Over the coming years, demand for secondary school places in Swindon is set to increase rapidly with a number of large-scale housing earmarked for the town.

In the next decade, it is estimated three new secondary schools will be needed in total so today's announcement will relieve much of that pressure.

The new schools are currently earmarked to open in September 2016 but as both are to be new-builds this could change.

In total 49 new free schools are set to be announced across the country.