THE founder of one of the country’s first free schools which remains open 51 weeks of the year is to visit Leeds tomorrow to outline plans to create a “carbon copy” of it in the city.
The Free School Norwich, hailed by Government as a blueprint for groups wanting to set up their own schools from scratch, is to help create a new primary in Leeds next September.
The school in Norfolk which was opened by Prime Minister David Cameron last year is now eight times over subscribed.
Its founder and head teacher Tania Sidney-Roberts said the success was down to meeting the demands of working parents.
The Free School Norwich offers childcare for its pupils for 51 weeks of the year and has a six term year with fortnight long half terms and a four week summer holiday following requests from prospective parents.
Mrs Sidney-Roberts said they now aimed to repeat the success of the launch of the Free School Norwich in Leeds with a new school which would be a “carbon copy” of the original.
The Free School Leeds was one of seven proposals in Yorkshire given initial approval to open in 2013 although it has not yet got a confirmed site. It plans to recruit pupils from across the city and is aiming to open with 96 children in four classes of 24 in reception and years one, two and three.
The Free School Norwich has a specialist dyslexia unit and the school in Leeds plans to be dyslexia friendly.
The plan for the school in Leeds was first started by Pat Payne from the Leeds and Bradford Dyslexia Association. She joined forces with the Free School Norwich around 18 months ago.
The two women will be speaking at 2pm tomorrow at an open day at the Weetwood Hall Conference Centre.
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