PARENTS can start applying for a place for their child at Harrow's first new free school - a combined primary and secondary school specialising in maths and performing arts - after a headteacher was appointed.
When it opens later this year at an as-yet unconfirmed location, Avanti House will accommodate pupils aged 4 to 18 and be run by the education charity behind the country's first state-funded Hindu primary school, Krishna-Avanti Primary School in Camrose Avenue, Edgware, and a spin-off body called Avanti Schools Trust.
Gareth Jones, 60, who was head of secondary school improvement for Essex, has been selected as the founding headteacher.
Nitesh Gor, director of the new Avanti Schools Trust and chair of governors at both Krishna-Avanti and Avanti House schools, said: Appointing such an experienced headteacher is a crucial step in ensuring that the Avanti Schools Trust family of schools continues its record of delivering only the very highest standard of education to its pupils and parents. 
"This new school will build on our past successes to deliver both primary and secondary education that is open and welcoming to all. 
"Our vision is for a school that nurtures each student on their own journey of self-discovery. "The school will not have any faith criteria for entry but it will have a dual specialism in mathematics and performing arts and so will have 10 per cent of places prioritised by aptitude. 
"The remainder of places will be based upon random allocation and distance.
Mr Jones said: "I am delighted and excited to have been given the opportunity to work with the Avanti Schools Trust and iFoundation to develop a new school for the children and young people of Harrow, Barnet and surrounding areas.
"We have an opportunity to deliver outstanding world-class education, underpinned by a strong focus on character formation and spiritual insight.
Parents are invited to apply for the limited Reception and Year 7 places and Mr Gor said earlier applications will be prioritised.
An application made to Avanti House School will not affect offers made by other schools so applicants can hold two possible offers for places, one made by Harrow Council and and another from Avanti House.
The school will accommodate two classes per year in the primary school and six classes per year in the secondary school.