CAMPAIGNERS are inviting parents to enrol their children at west Reading’s newest secondary free school which is on track to open in September next year.

Parents behind the newly re-branded Wren School were delighted to announce tonight that the new school has not only been granted Single Academy Trust approval by the Department for education (DfE), but is still set to open on time.

Although the school does not have a confirmed site due to the long planning battle over the former Elvian School site in Southcote, parents can enrol their Year 7 and Year 8 students for a place at the new free school from next Monday.

The school, which is being set up by the West Reading Education Network (WREN), now boasts a new logo and website and spokeswoman Sia Israel is urging parents to enrol their children as soon as possible.

She said: “We’re on target to open in September 2015 for Year 7 and Year 8 pupils so we’re encouraging anyone who is considering The Wren School to put their name down from Monday.”

As well as being approved for Single Academy Trust status the Wren School team has been joined by National Leader of Governance Carol Roycroft and Hazel Archer, Governor Services Officer. Reading Blue Coat School headteacher Mike Windsor with deputy headteacher Russell Slatford as well as Dr Patrick Hazlewood, teacher of St John’s Marlborough, have also swelled the group’s ranks.

WREN director Mischa Tytel stressed that Single Academy Trust status gives the group more control over how the school is run. He said: “We were able to demonstrate to the DfE that we have the skills necessary to fulfil all their requirements to create and run The Wren School.

“We’ve got a lot of proven expertise being channelled to create an amazing new secondary school in west Reading.”

Parents behind WREN helped launch the town’s first free school, All Saints Junior, before turning towards the challenge of opening a 180-place secondary school in west Reading

Despite being granted approval in May last year plans were put on hold while a bitter planning battle was faught over WREN’s preferred site in SOuthcote Lane. After the borough council refused developer Taylor Wimpey plans to build 182 homes on the Elvian site a plannig inquiry was launched, but after months of appeals the High Court threw out the developer’s appeal in June.

Parents are invited to two open days at from 2.30pm to 6.30pm at Southcote Primary School in Silchester Road on Monday and Friday next week where they can meet WREN, ask questions and enrol their children. Two further open days will be held at the school on Monday, October 13, and Friday, October 19, at the same time.

To enrol students at the school visit www.wrenschool.org