The opening of a new secondary school on the North Coast of Cornwall has moved a major step closer after it was confirmed a site had been secured off Liskey Hill in Perranporth.
The new school, which will provide up to 1,350 places, is being delivered by the Department for Education as part of its Wave 14 Free School Programme.
The school is due to open by September 2025 and will be part of Truro and Penwith Academy Trust, which supports twenty-nine infant, primary and secondary schools across Cornwall including schools in Perranporth, Mithian and Blackwater.
Dr Jenny Blunden OBE, chief executive of the Trust said:
“This is a very significant step towards the opening of a new 11-16 secondary school to meet the needs of our north coast communities.”
In 2019 Cornwall Council announced its support for local Trusts to bid to the Free School programme for a new secondary school in the North Coast area as part of its school place sufficiency strategy across the Truro and Newquay area.
Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Barbara Ellenbroek, said:
“The new school in Perranporth will provide brand-new local education facilities to the rural communities in and around St Agnes, Perranporth, Goonhavern and Cubert.
“It will also create capacity in the Newquay and Truro secondary schools to meet the growing demands in those areas, including from the new Langarth Garden Village.”
Cornwall Council has been working closely with the Department for Education and Truro and Penwith Multi Academy Trust on the location and delivery of the new school.
Work will now progress on design and access for the school, which will be subject to the normal planning permission process.