Approval has been given by the Government for a new Kilburn Free Primary School providing 420 new places.

The free school is one of 17 in the capital whose funding agreement was signed off by the Department for Education yesterday.

Kilburn Free Primary School will be a two-form non-denominational school opening in Kilburn in September 2015.

It will be run by the Bellevue Place Education Trust - a partnership of Bellevue Education Group, which runs nine independent preparatory schools, and Place Group, a school services provider and education consultancy.

Claire Delaney, chairwoman of Bellevue Place Education Trust, said: "We are delighted to have been approved into the pre-opening phase.

"This is the first milestone in the journey to a successful opening in September 2015 as it means that we are now able to progress our plans with the Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency.

"While there is  a great deal of work still to be done, our team has significant experience in opening and running schools and we are looking forward to the challenges and exciting times that lie ahead.

"We will be working closely with the local authority and also the Education Funding Agency to secure a suitable site and we hope to make a further announcement shortly."

Ms Delaney added: "Our plans have resonated with the local community and we have strong foundations of support and demand to build on. We are all very keen to get started on the next phase of our journey."

A headteacher is scheduled to be appointed in January 2015.

Education secretary Michael Gove said: " Free schools are giving thousands of children from ordinary backgrounds the kind of education previously reserved for the rich and the lucky.

" Thanks to our free school programme, many more parents across London will now have access to a new school offering high standards and tough discipline. Free schools put teachers – not bureaucrats and politicians – in the driving seat, as they are the ones who know their pupils best.

" As part of our long-term economic plan, we are determined to deliver the best schools and skills for our young people, and free schools are achieving exactly that."