A free school has been given the green light to open in Earls Court following claims that free school advocate Toby Young wants to open a new school every year.

The West London Free School Charitable Trust, run by Mr Young, has been told by the Department for Education they can open a third school in September 2014 called Earls Court Free School Primary. It will join the West London Free School Primary and its sister secondary school, both based in Hammersmith.

The Earls Court School will initially be housed in Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, where the primary school currently is, and then will become a two-form entry primary when it moves to Earls Court in 2020 as part of the multi-million pound redevelopment of the area. This will be subject to planning approval and consultation.

The move comes as both of the trust’s existing schools are heavily oversubscribed, with 394 children having applied for 60 places in the primary school for September 2013 entry, while 1,179 applied for 120 places in the secondary school.

Chairman of the trust, Mr Young, said: “I helped set up the West London Free School because I believe that all children should have access to a classical liberal education, regardless of background or ability. That approach has proved so popular with local parents that my group is now opening a third school and our aim is to open a new one every year for as long as there is demand for this type of school from parents.”

Each year, 30 children will be accepted into the reception class until the school relocates to Earls Court when the entry numbers will double to 60 children a year. The school aims to provide children with a classical liberal education, focusing on a core of academic subjects complemented by art, music, drama and competitive sport.

Councillor Georgie Cooney, Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “We welcome the suggestion for another free school and continue to offer our support to parents wanting to set up schools or those who opt to send their children to these new schools.

“With new housing and development coming to Earl’s Court, there will also be a growing population and greater demand for places in the area in the future. A new school will help address this issue while offering local parents more choice for their children’s education.”

Kensington and Chelsea Council’s cabinet member for education, Emma Will added that the new primary school is just one of the many positive aspects of the redevelopment of Earls Court.

“Demand for primary school places in the area is set to grow and it helps to give local parents even more choice on where to educate their children,” she said.

*The consultation is open until 5pm on January 3, 2014. You can fill in a questionnaire online at  www.wlfs-earlscourt.org/consultation/consultation.html  or you can fill in a paper copy using one of the consultation leaflets that are being distributed across the borough.

* An open event will be held at West London Free School Primary - the proposed temporary site for the school - at Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, W6 0LB, on December 11. There will be two sessions at 6pm-7pm and 7:30pm-8:30pm.