Dedicated parents and teachers are a few steps closer to potentially opening a bilingual primary free school in Harrow.

Harrow Bilingual Primary School could be opening its doors in September 2015 as a Church of England school if the interview with the Department of Education this week goes to plan.

If successful, the school will have two reception classes and one year one class, it is promising to offer the advantage of an environment where the children will be taught equally in English and one other language, either French or Spanish.

Chair of the Harrow Bilingual Primary School Core Team, Ian Fernandes said: "Until now the only way for children to benefit from a bilingual education was to go private. I am a local parent and I think all families should have this opportunity."

The school is being set up in partnership with the London Diocesan Board for Schools under the leadership of Daniel Norris, who is currently the head teacher at Holy Trinity School in Northwood.

Mr Norris said: "Each year we are disappointed not to be able to offer places to many families because we are such a small school. Harrow Bilingual Primary School will give us the opportunity to extend the high standards and warm ethos we believe we offer to many more families each year.

"I am a keen linguist and I have taught in France so the opportunity to lead the development of a primary school which teaches French to a very high standard was too good to pass up."

A potential site has been earmarked, but the location will not be revealed until the Education Funding Agency funding agreement, if successful, is in place.

The community group also revealed that Harrow School is committed to working in an educational partnership with the new free school including use of facilities for meetings and away days and opportunities for the Harrow boys to be involved in the life of Harrow Bilingual Primary School through providing support in lessons and during the enrichment programme. This will enable Harrow School to continue to develop their community outreach programmes for the boys.

The London Diocesan Board for Schools is the educational arm of the London Diocese. There are more than 150 Church of England Schools within the Diocese.

Chief Executive of London Diocesan Board for Schools, Inigo Woolf said: "There is a need for more primary school places in Harrow and we have been impressed with the vision and commitment behind this bid. A school which is a centre of excellence will not only benefit the children who attend but many other schools as well."

This initiative follows on the heels of a number of other bilingual primary schools across the UK that have been established under the Free School initiative, including Brighton Bilingual Primary School and the Europa School.

Closer to home, Wembley French International School will open in September 2015 in the converted former Brent Town Hall, in Forty Lane, Wembley .

Parents can register interest via the survey found on the school website at www.harrowbilingualprimary.co.uk

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