Teesside's first free school has officially opened - five months into its “wonderful” first year.
Ingleby Manor Free School welcomed 80 Year 7 pupils in September following a four year campaign to tackle a shortfall of secondary school places in Ingelby Barwick.
And today, staff and pupils welcomed invited guests, including James Wharton MP, for an official opening.
“It has been wonderful,” said the school’s principal, David Willard.
“It has been a really positive start and the students are making fantastic progress. The curriculum is second to none.
“There have been so many highlights.”
Plans for Ingleby Manor Free School were approved by the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities, Eric Pickles, in September 2013 after planning permission had been rejected by Labour-run Stockton Council.
It is Teesside’s first free school - which are publicly funded but free from local authority control and run by not-for-profit groups, such as parents.
The school is currently situated at its temporary base - a converted warehouse on Teesside Industrial Estate in Thornaby.
Its £11m permanent home at Low Lane, High Leven, will be finished by spring 2016. It will eventually hold up to 750 pupils and will include a sixth form centre.
“We like our current building but we are very excited to move and for the future,” said Mr Willard.
A school day at Ingleby Manor runs from 8.30am until 4.30pm - longer than a normal as the children complete any homework during the day during independent study sessions.
“I like how when we get home, the time is ours,” said Abbie Kane, 11.
“It is good that we don’t get any homework,” added Lillie Kemp, 11. “We do all our work within school time which I like.”
Abbie also shared what a typical day was like at the school. “We do core subjects in the morning and then in the afternoon we do arts and sports like horse riding at Stainsby and bowling at Hollywood Bowl,” she said.
Patrick Robinson, 12, and Kofi Marley, 11, also said they liked this about their school day.
“I would tell other children to come here,” said Kofi.
Speaking to the children at the event, MP for Stockton South James Wharton, said: “You are very, very lucky and privileged to be here.”
“Everyone involved has done an amazing job,” he added. “I really think we have an exciting future ahead for this school.”
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