THE NEW primary school at Ridgeway Farm will be steered by the trust already responsible for building a new secondary school for the town.

After a tendering process, The Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust has been awarded the contract to run the one form of entry primary, due to open next September.

The temporary executive headteacher has been announced as current Tadpole Farm Primary Academy principal Jane Leo, who will assist in establishing the school while remaining in her post.

The school will be built at the centre of the 700 home development, and primarily feed into the Purton schools system.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust said: "The trust is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the contract to run the new one form entry primary school at Ridgeway Farm in Wiltshire.

"The trust, which already runs primary schools in Bristol, Swindon and north Wiltshire, and is opening a new secondary school in Swindon in September 2017, is looking forward to working with Wiltshire Council to create an outstanding school.

"The new school will be situated in the centre of the Taylor Wimpey housing development close to the village of Purton and is due to open in September 2016.

"The trust is committed to the school working in partnership with the existing primary schools and playing an active role in the North Wilts Learning Cluster.

"It has appointed Jane Leo, the Principal of Tadpole Farm CE Primary Academy in Swindon, to be temporary executive headteacher.

"Jane while remaining as principal of Tadpole Farm will be able to use her experience of setting up a new school to support the development of Ridgeway Farm."

John Swainston, chief executive of the trust, said, “I am very pleased that the Secretary of State and the Regional School’s Commissioner have confirmed Wiltshire Council’s decision to award the contract to DBAT. I think it is an indication of the quality of our bid and the proven track record we have in school improvement.”