A SCHOOL in Badbury Park that was due to welcome pupils next September has had its opening delayed amid concerns of achieving the relevant planning permission.

The Blue Kite Trust gained financial backing from the Government back in April to open free school Badbury Park Primary School, to be built near Coate Water, next September.

It would initially cater for 30 pupils in a reception class as part of a temporary school before expanding to reach its full complement of pupils by 2024.

But last week, the trust and Swindon Borough Council were told by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to delay the opening and instead put all its focus on the opening of the permanent school the following year.

The permanent school has a target opening date of September 2019.

The ESFA informed the parties that the programme of delivery for a temporary free school will not proceed due to a number of factors.

These include the agreement of heads of terms with the developer, a consultation with residents, achieving the relevant planning permission and connecting the new facility to currently unknown utility services.

Concerns have also been raised by the EFSA of not being able to meet the deadline for the opening of the permanent school, if resources are focused on the temporary solution.

Gary Evans, CEO of the Blue Kite Trust said: “It is very disappointing news for all of us. We have had many, many meetings over the last year and have been very much pushing for the school to open as soon as possible but ultimately, we don’t get to make these decisions and have to abide by the ESFA’s choice.

“The council handle all admission arrangements and are already in touch with the small amount of people who are affected. We will now redouble our efforts to make sure that when the school opens it will be the best it can possibly be and serve as a hub for the community in that area.”

Parents had already submitted applications for school places at Badbury Park Primary before this announcement but now alternative arrangements are being made in order for the affected children to attend another school.

The Blue Kite Academy Trust, which already oversees Ruskin Junior School and Ferndale Primary School, was just one of two trusts given the green light by the Government back in April to open two free schools in the town – a state school that is not under local council control.

Coun Fionuala Foley, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School Attainment, said: “This is really disappointing news for parents in the new Badbury Park community as we were hoping to have the temporary school open next September.

“But unfortunately, this decision is out of our control, despite the best efforts of the Council and the Blue Kite Academy Trust. We are contacting the dozen or so parents who have submitted an application for a school place in September and will support them in finding alternative school places for their children.”