An “amazing” site has been secured for a new secondary school which will offer 1,400 new spaces for pupils in Waltham Forest

The Lion Academy Trust announced the acquisition of the site, currently being used as a Thames Water depot, in Lea Bridge Road on the border of Leyton.

The free school will be named Barclay Secondary Free School and is set to open from September 2017.

The academy trust runs Sybourn and Thomas Gamuel in Walthamstow and Barclay in Leyton.

Justin James, Chief Executive Officer of the Lion Academy Trust, said: “We know how much this means to our parents and to our pupils – and are grateful to the Department for Education and their teams for all the work and effort that went into securing this amazing site for the new school.

“Barclay Secondary Free School will not only help to meet the looming shortage of quality spaces for families to choose from locally, but also to ensure that the 'no excuses' culture and relentless pursuit of excellence we demonstrate in our primary schools is extended into the secondary phase.

“We look forward to working for all the pupils in Waltham Forest and neighbouring boroughs and being the local school of choice.”

The new school will open in temporary accommodation on the site in September 2017 and will offer places for 208 pupils in Year 7.

Once fully occupied in 2023, the school will provide education to 1,400 pupils.

The site will also be home to the Athena Academy, a new two-form entry primary school that will also open in September 2017.

Athena Academy will be run by REAch2, the largest primary trust in the country.

Christopher Stark, Senior Project Manager, said: “The support we have received from families across the borough has been phenomenal and we remain committed to making sure the new school is a beacon for aspiration and innovation for pupils who attend.

“Although we are very excited by this newly secured site, the trust would like to thank the parents who made Barclay Secondary Free School their number one choice for 2016 and wish them and their children all the best for their onward educational journey.”

Parents interested in securing a place for their child at the new school can find out more by contacting Christopher Stark on Christopher@lionacademytrust.net