A BRAND new school is officially on its way to Worcester – to the delight of parents, pupils and teachers in the area.

A proposal to build a new primary school in north Worcester has been given the green light by the Department for Education.

The new school, called North Worcester Primary Academy, will be an all-through primary school for 420 pupils aged three to 11 and could be open by next September, with an initial intake of 60 reception pupils.

The Rivers CofE Academy Trust, which is setting up the school, has not yet confirmed a site for the new building.

It comes as welcome news for parents in the area, after pressure for schools places in Northwick and Claines last year resulted in many not being offered places in the area – and a 'bulge class' later being created at Northwick Manor Primary School.

Kate Brunt, chief executive officer at the Rivers Multi Academy Trust, said: "We are delighted to have been successful in securing this essential provision for north Worcester. I'm really excited by the whole proposal.

"We have been working extremely closely with the local authority over the past few years to look at strategic planning solutions for the expanding number of families in the north Worcester area.

"I'm aware of the anxiety of parents not getting their first choice. My philosophy is to work very closely with parents and be very open and transparent really.

"We feel that a new school meets the needs of the city in a sustainable way in the years ahead. The big thing is now we have got to get our admissions policy sorted.

"I would also like to thank the parents and the local community with the overwhelming support we have received so far."

The Rivers Trust submitted a bid to the Department of Education (DfE) last year, and the approval was announced on Wednesday.

Dean Jones, who lives in Ombersley Road, was part of a parents action group set up after their children were refused places at the three schools closest to their homes – Northwick, Claines and Perdiswell primaries.

"To confirm within a year they they have got approval for that school to be built, that is really good news," he said. "It is going to reduce parents' anxieties in terms of where their children are going."

Amanda Evans, who is also a parent, said: "I am very pleased to hear that the new school has been given the go ahead as there is certainly a need for it.

"I hope they an find a suitable location to site the school so that it helps the community that it needs to. I also hope that they take into account siblings that are already at the existing schools when catchments change."

For more information visit riverscofe.co.uk