Dorset campaigners propose all-through free school

A new free school could open in Dorset if proposals by a group of local parents and teachers are agreed.

Parkfield New School, a 390-place "all-through school", would open in either Bournemouth or Poole in September 2012.

It would see students remain at the school throughout their primary, secondary and post-16 school years.

The school is now open to public consultation and has already received over 200 registrations of interest, according to campaigners.

Small classes

Free schools work outside of local education authority control and receive money directly from the government. They are free for students to attend.

The exact location of the state-funded school is yet to be determined.

Sarah Fryer, a spokesperson for the Parkfield New School group, said: "We want the school to be in the best location to serve the largest amount of people in the Bournemouth and Poole area, so we are asking the public where they would like it to be."

The new school would see a maximum of 20 students per class.

Plans for the school, which are being applied for under the government's new free school policy, will be submitted to the Department of Education when their application process for 2012 schools opens.

Ms Fryer said: "I am expecting this to be in the next couple of weeks."