The location of a new secondary school in Cornwall has been revealed. 

Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory announced today that she had received agreement for a new secondary school in Perranporth.

She said 'Perranporth Secondary School' will among 21 new 'Free Schools' that will be built as part of the Government’s free school programme, which launched in 2010.

These state funded non-profit schools can be set up, and run, by teachers, parents and community groups in response to demands for better education provision in their area.

Cherilyn said: “Since my election in 2019 one of the first things I raised with the Government was the lack of local secondary school places for children in Perranporth and the surrounding communities.

“I have subsequently campaigned hard for a new secondary school for our constituency, having raised this issue in Parliament, regularly lobbied Ministers and met with the Secretary of State for Education about it.

“I am delighted that the Government has listened and acted, and that families from Perranporth and the surrounding communities will benefit from the creation of new good quality school places that Perranporth Secondary School will bring.

“Delivering a word-class education system is at the heart of our efforts to level up opportunity across the country, and by ensuring every child gets a good education, we can help them unleash their potential.

“I look forward to working with all concerned to get this new school built and open for future generations of our young people here in Truro and Falmouth constituency.”

Cherilyn revealed last October that she was in talks with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson about the need for a new school in her constituency. 

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Cornwall Council has also welcomed the news that Truro and Penwith Multi Academy Trust’s bid for a new secondary school on the north coast had been approved by the Government as part of its Wave 14 Free School programme. 

It said the new school, which will provide 1,350 new secondary places, will be located in the St Agnes to Goonhavern area, although the final site is not yet confirmed.

In 2019 Cornwall Council announced its support for local MATs to bid to the Free School programme for a new secondary school in the North coast area as part of its school place sufficiency strategy across the Truro and Newquay area. 

The four existing secondary schools in this area, which also serve several surrounding villages, have seen an increase in demand for places over the last five years due to population growth as well as significant amounts of housing development. As a result they are now nearly full, and new secondary school places are needed, the council said. 

The new school on the North Coast will provide brand-new local education facilities to the rural communities in and around St Agnes, Perranporth, Goonhavern and Cubert, and create capacity in the Newquay and Truro secondary schools to meet the growing demands in those areas, including from the new Langarth Garden Village.

Cornwall Council will now work with Truro and Penwith Academy Trust, who have been chosen to open the new Free School, to bring the project to life. 

The Government said in total the 21 Free Schools nationally will provide more than 15,500 new school places.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Today we are launching the first phase of our ambitious new schools programme, with 50 rebuilds and 21 new free schools.

“The rebuilding projects are just the start of our major ten-year programme, transforming hundreds of schools and improving the education of tens of thousands of children.

"Alongside this, over 15,500 children will now benefit from 21 new free schools across the country as we look to build back better after the pandemic.

“I am determined to get all children back into education as soon as possible, and will make sure we do not let the pandemic stand in the way of giving every young person the opportunity to succeed, progress and fulfil their potential.”